Maria Jarreau Heller
Maria Jarreau Heller, 89, widow of Alphé Jarreau and Dr. John Heller, mother of four, grandmother to four, great-grandmother to one, prolific floral painter, avid gardener and landscaper died Monday, January 6th, 2014 in Wilton, Connecticut. She was born to Conchita and Alfred Stokes-Vecchio in Gilbraltar on May 30, 1924 and immigrated with her sister, Iris, and parents to America in 1943 and soon became a naturalized citizen.
Maria lived in Wilton for 65 years raising a large family, including two marriages each lasting for 23 years. She started studying painting later in life, and was a vibrant contributor and spirited teacher in the local arts community for decades. She was awarded the annual Juror’s Best in Show for drawing and graphics at Spectrum 2004 in New Canaan.
Her media included stained glass and tile mosaics, fine embroidery, leather tooling, sculpture with shells, portrait painting, and decoupage. Her work has been shown at the National Art Club in New York City, Greenwich Hospital, Neiman Marcus, the Westport Library, Hammond Museum, South Salem, the Carriage Barn at Waveny Castle, Greenwich Garden Educational Center, St. Vincent’s Hospital, and the Ogden House. Her work is in many private collections. Her most recent display, an aquarium replica of the Great Barrier Reef was on display at the Wilton Public Library.
Maria enjoyed her many friends in Wilton, especially swimming at the YMCA. She contributed her passion for the arts with the New Canaan Sewing Group for over 30 years. She also greatly enjoyed playing the piano. Her most treasured love was being with her family and friends, celebrating holidays and birthdays, and bringing her unique sense of humor and point of view to every occasion.
She was a faithful parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Wilton for decades until her passing.
She is survived by her sister, Iris Stokes-Vecchio Barton formerly of Wilton, Connecticut, and her husband, Harold Barton; her daughter, Yvette Jarreau of Weston, Connecticut; her son, Adrian Jarreau of Seattle and his wife Rikki Ricard; her son, Julien Jarreau, formerly of West Norwalk, Connecticut and his wife, Kelley Connors; four grandsons Rian, Seth, André and Jean-Paul Jarreau; and her great-granddaughter Imogen Jarreau.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 1 pm in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Wilton, CT.
Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery, Wilton.
There will be no calling hours.
Donations may be made to the Wilton Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County, P.O. Box 489, Wilton, CT 06897.
Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield is in charge of arrangements.