Marina Jarvis

Marina, 76, passed away on the afternoon of June 10, 2013 at home with her family by her side. She will be mourned by many, including her beloved husband of 53 years, Donald L. Jarvis, Sr.; her son, Donald L. Jarvis, Jr., 47; his wife, Mary Beth Jarvis, 44, and grandchildren, Kevin Donald Jarvis, 18, and Elizabeth Marina Jarvis, 15, all of Wichita, Kan.

She is survived by four siblings, Aurora Serrano, Isabel Serrano Munoz and Antonio Serrano Munoz, all of Spain, and Isidora Bradley, of Fountain Hills. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jose Serrano Ruiz and Marina Munoz Esposito, and siblings Jose Serrano Munoz and Teodoro Serrano Munoz.

She was also deeply loved by her sisters-in-law, Betty Smith, Hope Schoolcraft, Jean Holmes, Helen Wayne, Alice Conley, Donnie King and Connie Rucker.

Marina was born in Rute de Cordoba, Spain, on May 2, 1937. She met Don in Madrid while he was a young airman in the United States Air Force stationed at Torrejon AB, Spain, in 1959. They married May 4, 1960 and spent the next 27 years as a military family, living in Tonopah, Nev.; Tacoma, Wash. -- where their son, Donald Jr., was born -- Biloxi, Miss.; Finley, N.D.; Tokyo, Japan; Genoa, Neb.; Incirlik AB, Turkey; Rome, N.Y.; Rapid City, S.D.; and Torrejon AB, Spain.

After retiring from the Air Force, Don and Marina spent 13 years in Huntsville, Ala., where Don served as a U.S. Army contractor at Red Stone Arsenal. In 2002, they moved to Fountain Hills where they enjoyed the beauty of the desert and their home. They also had a home in Wichita, Kan., to spend time with their grandchildren.

A talented seamstress and dedicated homemaker, Marina dedicated her life to serving her family and loved ones. She came to the United States for the first time in October 1961, and became a U.S. citizen in April 1969. She was extremely proud of both her Spanish heritage and her adopted country. Her warm smile and quick humor brought great joy to all those she served and loved.

Visitation will be held at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, June 15, and the Funeral Mass is scheduled at 10 a.m. that same day, both at Don and Marina's home Parish: Church of the Ascension, 12615 N. Fountain Hills Boulevard.

Flowers or remembrances may be sent to the mortuary, for conveyance to the Church and the family: Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary, 12065 North Saguaro Boulevard. Email for Danielle Petit: dpetit@messingermortuary.com, 480-837-5588.

However, in lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests you include in your charitable contributions gifts to these two organizations, home to the physicians and caregivers who grew to love her during her two-year battle with pancreatic cancer: The Mayo Clinic – Arizona Hospital and Cancer Center, 13400 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85259. General number: 480-301-8000. Donation page: https://development-comm.mayoclinic.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=600

Hospice of the Valley Fund Development Department -- Memorial Donations, Scottsdale/Northeast Clinical Office, 16117 N. 76th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Donation page: http://www.hov.org/donation?type_of_donation=0

Memorial donation information: (602) 530-6992.