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Maria G.
Brountas (Gianibas)

March 18, 1932 – October 14, 2018

Maria G. Brountas
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"We are honored to provide this Book of Memories to the family."
— Brookings-Smith
"You will remain in my heart forever!"
— Jean
"Mrs. Brountas you have been an inspiration to all and we will always love and remember you. Gary, Chris, David, Peter, and Michael Kell..."
— The Kellner Family

Obituary for Maria G. Brountas (Gianibas)

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BANGOR – Maria G. Brountas, loving wife, mother, Yiayia, and one of Bangor’s most distinguished educators passed away peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, choosing to join her Arthur on what would have been their 62nd wedding anniversary. Maria (known to her beloved Arthur as Mary) was born Maritza Nicky Gianibas on March 18, 1932 in Boston, MA.

She was the daughter of Eugenia and Nicholas Gianibas. Maria attended schools in Boston’s South End. Maria was a fighter. She overcame many obstacles in her life. Being a first generation Greek-American, Maria went to school only speaking Greek. The Greek community was very close knit and didn’t allow for Maria to pick up the English language until she attended school. This was very frustrating for the bright Maria. Kindergarten was a negative experience, but it was her first-grade teacher that would inspire the young Maria to one day teach. Going to college was a desire of Maria’s. Her father had been lost in a car accident in her teens. Her mother worked in a factory to raise Maria and her two brothers. There wasn’t enough money for going to college so that was out of the question. Her family-oriented mother believed a woman’s place was in the home with her children. Maria had her own ideas of love, family, and education. She saw no reason why she couldn’t have it all. This was the Maria Way. Once she committed herself, it was just a matter of making it happen. She worked three jobs to pay for college. She graduated from Boston State Teacher’s College (now U Mass Boston) with a Bachelor’s degree. During 1955 – 1956, Maria’s first teaching assignment was at Athens School in Weymouth, MA. Many years later Maria went on to get a Master’s degree, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Study from U Maine.

It was during her first year of teaching that she was reintroduced to Arthur Peter Brountas of Bangor, Maine. Maria had met Arthur five years earlier when she was seventeen at Arthur’s nephew’s christening where Maria was an invited guest. The first date sealed their love connection. Arthur stole a kiss and the surprised Maria was moved by her confident Greek suitor. The courtship was limited to visits to the Gianibas home, under the watchful eye of Maria’s mother. They were married October 14, 1956, and were happily together for sixty-one years until Arthur’s passing.

Being blessed with a daughter in their early marriage Maria was a stay at home mom for a while. When her youngest was in the third grade, Maria began to continue her dream. Going back to work allowed Maria to show her numerous talents as a teacher and super mom at the same time. She taught second and third grade before taking a first-grade classroom. She spent the remaining years of her career as a first-grade teacher. Fairmount School is where she developed her leadership skills. The school needed things not included in the budget so she started a fundraiser, bringing the first ice-cream social to Fairmount School. She was later assigned to Vine Street School, retiring from there in June of 2004. Maria had been a Bangor teacher since 1957. She wrote articles for the national magazine Teaching K-8 and was an adjunct professor at the University of Maine. She was approached by a textbook company to become a spokesperson, but her love of family and teaching made it easy to say no.

Maria worked years on crafting the elementary literacy curriculum for Bangor. The program was so popular that other school systems adopted it. Maria went as far as Alaska to help their teachers with the new program. It is no wonder Maria received many educator awards over the years. The one special to her heart was being named Bangor Teacher of the Year and she was one of four state finalists.

Another of Maria’s lasting accomplishments was founding Pathfinders with Barbara Eames in 1993. Pathfinders is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The program provides special bereavement support geared specifically for children beginning at age 4 through young adults. This program was inspired by Adam, a student in Maria’s first grade class, who passed on from leukemia.

Maria had a life full of other accomplishments besides teaching. Always trying to help others was the Maria Way. Her heart was all about giving and appreciating what she had. Church was pivotal to her so she taught Sunday School at a young age. Later, she was in the Philoptochos Society (woman’s charitable organization), along with serving on the church board and had two terms as President of the board. Maria instituted the yearly fund raiser named simply “Christmas Cards” which brought in overwhelming support for special projects. One project was refurbishment of the church pews. Years later, she decided the church needed their windows to be replaced with stained glass and this major undertaking was not out of reach for Maria.


Maria was a founding member of the Decade Club (social club). Members had to be friends for at least ten years. The Decade Club spun off to a yearly vacation group called the Congenial Forty. It was born out of necessity. The members of the Decade Club never believed their husbands would take them and their children on proper vacations. The women mapped and coordinated a week-long chartered bus trip to historical sites. For this, Maria was dubbed “Trail Boss Maria”. Once again, others recognized the Maria Way.


Maria is predeceased by her beloved husband, Arthur Peter Brountas, her parents, and her brothers Peter N. Gianibas and Paul N. Gianibas both of Hull, MA.

Maria is survived by daughter Penny Brountas Rees of Brewer; daughter Jean A. Brountas and Gary T. Kellner of Westwood, MA.; son Peter Arthur Brountas and Debbie Michaud of Brewer; grandson Brett Christopher Rees and wife Kara Kelley of Cambridge, MA; grandson Kyle Nicholas Rees of Bangor; granddaughter Jessica M. Brountas of Bangor; A.J. Bustard of Brewer; sister-in-law Lynn T. Brountas of Weston and Chatham, MA.; sister-in-law Helen Brountas of Bangor; sister-in-law Margie Gianibas of Hull, MA.; goddaughter Sharon Leakos and nephew George Leakos of Brewer; and special friends Sara Jane Cox of Bangor; Paul and Martha Newman of Bangor; and Linda Boyle of Glenburn; as well as many wonderful Brountas, Nichols, Leakos, and Gianibas nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are welcome to call 5:00-7:00 PM, Thursday, October 18, 2018, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor, where a Trisagion service will be held. A funeral service will be held 2:00 PM, Friday, October 19, 2018, at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 90 Sanford Street, Bangor with the Rev. Leo Schefe, presbyter, presiding. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center Street, Bangor, following the services. Those wishing to remember Maria in a special way may contribute in her memory to the St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 90 Sanford Street, Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.

First Visitation

When Thursday, October 18th, 2018 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location
Brookings-Smith, Bangor
Address
133 Center Street
Bangor, ME 04401
Additional Information

Service Information

When
Friday, October 19th, 2018 2:00pm
Location
St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Address
90 Sanford St.
Bangor, ME 04401

Interment Information

Location
Mount Hope Cemetery
Address
1048 State Street
Bangor, ME 04401

Reception Information

Location
Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith
Address
163 Center Street
Bangor, ME 04401
Reception Extra Info
Immediately following the service on Friday.
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