Marie Ella Pirkey's Obituary
Marie Kowalski Pirkey, born May 19,1931 in New York, NY, the daughter of Robert and Marie Perugini, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2016 in Maui, Hawaii.
Marie had a huge personality and a zest for life, and loved to spend time with her children and grand children. Family dinners were frequent and Marie was happiest with Italian food and her favorite artist, Frank Sinatra. Marie raised her five children as a single mother in the suburbs of Baltimore, MD, and always put their needs ahead of hers.
She worked two jobs most of her life, and her love for the vibrancy of youth was evident in her favorite occupations. Marie drove a school bus for over 20 years and moonlighted teaching swimming and life saving courses for the YWCA in Baltimore. Marie remarried in 1989 to Charles S. Pirkey of Cumberland, MD. Charles passed away in 2001.
She loved the water, either in it, or on it. Her love of cruise ships culminated in the excursion and adventure of her lifetime as she cruised from New York to Honolulu via the Panama Canal, at sea for 18 days. She spent her last 14 years on the island of Maui near her immediate family. She was loved by all who knew her.
Marie is survived by her children, Deborah Kowalski Wilson, Edward Kowalski, Robert Kowalski, and Anthony Kowalski, son in law Gerald Wilson, daughter in law Mary Mathias Kowalski, grand children Iza Ally, Gianna Rossi, Terra Stewart, and Tiamo Hudspeth.
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