Maria was born in Quezon City, Philippines to a family of six girls and one boy. She is the fourth in the family and is predeceased by her parents, Crispin Arico and Aurelia Masa. She finished B.S. Psychology in the Far Eastern University and completed Master of Industrial Relations from the University of the Philippines.
In 1988, Maria immigrated to Vancouver, BC and was joined by her mother and four siblings in March 1994. She met Dennis John Pucovsky while working in the Seafarers’ International Union of Canada. They got married in June 1998 and on April 6, 2001, was blessed with a daughter, Athena Lourdes. Maria gave up her work at the Indian Affairs for the Canadian government to take care of Athena. She has then worked as a full-time Canada Post employee for 15 years until her early retirement in 2022. At Canada Post, she was involved with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers where she took pride in fighting for workers’ rights.
Maria enjoyed an early retired life tending her beautiful garden, enjoying coffee with friends, actively involved as a volunteer in Saint Patrick’s Parish and St. Francis Xavier Parish in Vancouver in activities like the Parish Religious Education Program, Focolare, Catholic Women’s League, Usher/Offertory Collector, and the online rosary group which started at the height of COVID-19 in 2020. She also enjoyed travelling throughout her life, the pinnacle of which was when she was able to visit Lourdes, France, and the Vatican City gazing at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Maria was survived by her husband, Dennis, her daughter, Athena, her six siblings, nephews, nieces, grandniece, and grandnephew.
A visitation for Maria will be held Tuesday, April 23, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Parish, 2881 Main St, Vancouver, BC. The Funeral Mass will occur Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 11:00 am at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Parish, 2881 Main St, Vancouver, BC followed by committal at 12:45 pm at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 3789 Royal Oak Ave, Burnaby, BC.
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