Wilma G. Faini, 82, of Lexington Park, MD died March 3, 2010, at Hospice House of St. Mary's after a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer's.

She was born August 14, 1927, in Solen, North Dakota, to May Gladys Clark McDonald and Ralph B. McDonald. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Ruth Perius and June Adams.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Vito Anthony (Tony) Faini; daughter, Mary E. Faini, MD and partner Sue Roach, MD, both of Longmont, Colorado; daughter, Toni Faini Winchester and husband Jon Winchester, and two beloved grandsons, Gordon Winchester and Jackson Winchester, of Emerald Isle, North Carolina.

Following graduation from Solen High School at the age of 15, she graduated from Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota, with a major in English and a minor in Spanish. She obtained her Masters in English Literature from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1952. She began her 37-year teaching career in Mandan, North Dakota, followed by several enjoyable teaching assignments with Air Force dependent schools in Alaska, Norway, England, and Germany.

After meeting in Frankfurt, Wilma and Tony were wed in Erding, Germany, on April 20, 1959. They lived in Alamagordo, New Mexico; Okinawa, Japan; and Satellite Beach, Florida, where she learned and taught Braille. The last 40 years, they have lived in Town Creek. Wilma loved her 22 years with St. Mary's County Public Schools, at Esperanza Middle and Town Creek Elementary Schools, and the dear friends she made with others that imparted their love of learning.

As an English major, she loved words, reading, and theatre. She also loved fine arts and classical music, particularly Beethoven, travel, and embracing the local culture of each area in which she lived. Two hobbies in which she particularly delighted in were crabbing and fishing.

The family will receive friends for Wilma's Life Celebration on Friday, March 5, 2010 from 5 to 8 p.m., with Prayers at 7 p.m., at Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lexington Park, MD. Rev. Thomas Gude will be the celebrant; Rev. Jack Kennealy and Rev. Zygmunt Kurzawinski, con-celebrants.

Memorial contributions may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 22375 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, MD 20653, or Hospice House of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown ,MD.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.