Maureen (Maria) Darling, 68, of Lewiston, Maine, whose birth was a true Christmas miracle on December 25, 1956 passed away on May 5, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.

Maria was a woman of great warmth, humor, and generosity. She found joy in cooking for others, and some of her happiest moments were those spent sharing meals with the people she loved. Her spirit shone especially bright during summer days at the lake with her sister Lynnore, where she would laugh and play with the minnows as they tickled her toes.

Maria was an extravagant gift giver with a heart as big as her stories—always ready with a tale that brought laughter and light to those around her. She was the kind of woman who would give the shirt off her back to someone in need, and she made every room she entered feel brighter just by being there. She could best be described as a spitfire, and she was a fierce defender of those she loved.

She is survived by her mother, Annette; her siblings George, Gene, Hope, Robert, Florence, Lynnore, James, Donald, Annette, and Roxanne, and her sister in spirit, Miriam; her beloved sons Daniel, Joseph, and Christopher; her grandchildren Evalisa, Emily, Meilani, Kane, Mateo, and Zander, many cherished great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, and her great-niece Reagan Maria, who was named in her honor. She also leaves behind countless others that she met on the streets of Lewiston, who all became her own children in a way, and who she loved as truly as anyone might love their own flesh and blood.

A private graveside service will be held, and Maria will be laid to rest beside her father, Douglas Burnell. She goes on to join her brothers, Douglas Burnell, Randy Burnell, and Charles Burnell in heaven.

The mark she left on the world and in so many hearts cannot be summed up in words. Her presence, her laughter, and her giving spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

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