BRUNSWICK — Marie Fazzone Little, 88, passed away on Sunday, March 9, at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, after a period of failing health. She was attended by her two loving sons, John B. Little III of Worcester, Mass., and Max P. Little of Harrisburg, Pa.; her beloved husband, John B. Little Jr., died in 1991. She was predeceased by her brothers, Anthony, Patrick and Frank Fazzone; and her niece, Susan Fazzone. She is survived by her nephews Patrick, James, Raymond and Tom Fazzone; great-nephews, Patrick, Andrew and Gregory Fazzone; and great-nieces, Stephanie and Alexandra Fazzone.

Marie was born into an Italian immigrant family in Bridgeport, Conn. She kept many of the cultural traditions of her forebears, while finding her own way with great independence and strength of character. She was the first woman in her family to attend college — first Connecticut College, then the University of New Hampshire and finally Washington University in Saint Louis, Mo., where she did all the course work for a Ph.D. in political science.

She taught political science briefly at Elmira College in Elmira, N.Y., and later for many years at Mansfield University in Mansfield, Pa. Marie was a student of American and international political systems and in later years a faithful MSNBC viewer. She always loved to discuss politics and debate public policy, and inspired many of her students to pursue careers in related fields. Marie retired from teaching in 1987, and moved to Maine in 2000 to be near the seacoast and the ocean she loved.

She lived for many years at the Highlands in Topsham, where she made many friends and had recently moved to HillHouse in Bath at the time of her death. In this area, she served for several years as a volunteer at Mid Coast Hospital and the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Soup Kitchen.

Marie was a voracious reader and participated in two different book groups in the Brunswick-Topsham area for a number of years. She was an avid duplicate and “kitchen” bridge player, and had recently begun playing bridge online as well. In earlier years, she played tennis regularly and she still followed professional tennis with great interest. She also grew to love the Red Sox, even though all of her family had been Yankee fans when she was growing up.

While she was still able to do so, Marie faithfully attended the Saturday matinee simulcasts from the Metropolitan Opera with friends and was developing a taste for Wagner to match her initial love of Italian opera. At first with her husband and later on her own, she traveled extensively to all parts of Europe, Russia, Turkey and South America, with Elderhostel and other guided tour groups. She treasured all the memories from those trips.

Condolences may be expressed at FuneralAlternatives.net.

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