Maria Christensen

Maria Christensen passed away peacefully on June 20th, 2015 at INOVA Mt. Vernon Hospital. Maria was born Maria Carini on October 29, 1943 in Santa Cristina Gela, Sicily. She was the daughter of the late Giorgio Carini and Francesca Traina. She grew up in Williamstown, New Jersey after immigrating to the U.S as a teenager by boat through Ellis Island in 1959. Youngest of seven, the late Pietro, Luigi, Benina Fragola, and Felicia Scafidi, survived by Lucia Brown and Giuseppina Luppino, all of southern New Jersey. She worked hard all her life, supporting her first husband’s Army career, Alan N. Christensen, who died of ALS in 1999; as a demonstrator, representative, salesperson within the various Exchange services in the Washington DC Area. She spent her life volunteering and taking in families in need and anyone who wanted a friend. She was kind, compassionate, loyal and loving. She is survived by her second husband of eight years, Jeff Acurso; loving mother of Ken and Lisa Christensen and step mother of Robert Acurso. Also survived by Karen Cox of Atlanta, GA from her former marriage to Alan. Funeral Mass will be held at the Church of the Nativity, 6400 Nativity Ln. Burke VA on Thursday, 24 September 2015 at 1:00 PM. Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on 25 September at 11:00 AM (attendees should be at the Administration Building no later than 10:00AM per Arlington National Cemetery policy). A reception will follow at 12:00 Noon at Ft. Myer. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to ALS research at www.alsa.org in her honor. Visit Demaine Funeral Home www.demainefunerals.com for more details, directions, and/or to leave condolences and any memories. She will be missed. Especially by her husband, children, sisters, nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews and the many friends she touched during her life, “Riposa In Pace” - We love you Mama C!