Maria was born November 29, 1959, in Havana, Cuba to Porfirio and Hortensia {Valdes} Arango. In 1961, she left Cuba on a freighter for Spain with her mother and brother German where they were later joined by Porfirio. The family lived in Barcelona until 1974 when they emigrated to the US and settled in Las Vegas joining Maria’s uncle, aunt and cousins.
Maria was graduated from Clark High School in 1977. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from UNLV in 1990 and an M.S. in Exercise Physiology in 1992.
Maria married Donald Clayton Diener on July 26, 1990. She died just 12 days short of their 33rd anniversary.
Maria worked for several years as an Exercise Physiologist but left to pursue her passion for art in 1999 and was a full-time artist ever since. She called her art business 1000woodcuts setting an ambitious goal that her illness would not allow her to reach.
Maria was joyous, energetic, and enthusiastic in everything she did. She enjoyed physical activity including competitive sports, bicycle riding, swimming, hiking, gardening, and even construction projects. She loved the out of doors and the fauna, flora, and scenic beauty of Red Rock, Mount Charleston, and Lake Mead. She was cheerful, positive, kind, and generous.
Maria will be deeply missed by her husband Don, her mother Hortensia, and brother German, all of Las Vegas and her sister Elena of Utah, as well as her aunt Alba and cousins Alba, Maria, and Helen. Maria was preceded in death by her father Porfirio.
A private burial in Kansas is being planned.
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