Maria P. Hurley

She was a proud first generation Italian American, born in Presque Isle on May 27th, 1920, the daughter of Giovanna and Ralph Phillips. Maria grew up in Portland with her parents and three older brothers, Carl, Andrew and Marty Phillips. She graduated from Deering High School in 1938 and would later return there to teach English. Maria graduated with a B.S. from the University of Maine in Orono in 1942, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and active in a variety of clubs and sports, including field hockey and tennis.

Upon graduating from UMO, Maria taught English and Spanish at Falmouth High School and then later at Lincoln Middle School and Deering High School in Portland. Maria was passionate about teaching and education. She felt that teaching was “not just a job”. Maria told her students that, “while you are in my classroom, while I have you, you belong to me and I belong to you. We respect each other, you’re like my own children and I want you to do well”. Maria taught English for 35 years and was fondly known as “Ma Hurley” to thousands of students. After her retirement, she continued to keep in touch with many of her students and was frequently invited to class reunions. Maria was a member of the College Club of Portland and the Cumberland County Retired Educators.

Maria married Daniel Hurley in August 30, 1947. They were married for 38 years, until his death in August of 1985. She was a devout Catholic and member of the Church in Portland at both St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s and later at Sacred Heart in Yarmouth.

Maria was an incredible cook, famous for her Italian food, pies and baked goods. She was very generous and thoughtful, often giving to charities to support children and military families. Maria enjoyed reading, music and spending time with family and friends, especially her Newman St. and Hawthorne Court “families”, teaching friends and golf buddies. She loved sports and was an enthusiastic fan of basketball, football, baseball and golf. Maria was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing with friends and family into her 90th year. Maria was a long time member of the Riverside Women’s Golf Association.

While Maria was “Ma Hurley” and “Nonna” to many, her greatest passion and love was her family. She was a loving and proud mother, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother. Maria is survived by her children, Carl Hurley and his wife Kathy of Fairfax, Virginia, Giovanna Hurley and her husband Jim Fortin of Cumberland and Brian Hurley and his wife Patty Bair of West Palm Beach, Florida, cousin Rose Shanker of New Seabury, Massachusetts, niece Terri Salemme of McLean Virginia, nephew David Phillips of Massachusetts, grandchildren Sean Hurley and his wife Crystal of Severn, Maryland, Brendan Hurley of Fairfax, Virginia, James Fortin of Cumberland, Kate Fortin of Madrid, Spain, and three beautiful granddaughters, Alyssa, Katelyn and Rowan Hurley.

The family would like to extend our thanks to all of Maria’s doctors and emergency medical, home health and hospice staff. Thank you to Dr. Baum and Sarah, Cumberland Rescue, MMC ER staff and all staff on the 7th floor, all staff at Maine Cardiology, especially Dr. Diaz and Mike, Home Health Visiting Nurses staff, including Michelle and Cindy, VNA Hospice, including Hope, Jennifer, Sarah, Joan, Michelle, and especially to Pam Shay. Thank you all so much for helping to care for Maria.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a time of visitation on Friday March 8 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. in the Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portland, Maine. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday March 9 at 10:00 A.M. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Main St. in Yarmouth, Maine. Interment will immediately follow at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland, Maine. On-Line Condolences can be given to Maria’s Family at www.jonesrichandhutchins.com. In Lieu of flowers donations in Maria’s Name can be given to the Wounded Warrior Project 1120 G St. NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005 or VNA Hospice 50 Foden Road Suite 3 South Portland, ME 04106.