BUXTON- “Cori” Coraleen May (Bangs) Vavra, age 62, passed away peacefully on Sept. 7, 2016 at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.
She was born in Portland on Aug. 19, 1954, a daughter of the late Floyd Sr. and Virginia (Dow) Bangs.
Cori was a proud US Navy veteran and served as a hospital corpsman in Norfolk, VA.
She graduated from Bonny Eagle High School and went on to graduate from Mount Marty College in South Dakota in 1987.
She worked as a midwife and nurse in South Dakota before attaining her nursing degree in 1987. She then moved back to Maine with her family in 1987 and began a 28 year career working at Maine Medical Center as a RN and later as a Medical Document Specialist.
Cori loved to travel and visited many states and countries including Mexico, England, Scotland, Wales and Italy.
She loved the ocean and being on the beach was one of her favorite things. She was a collector of many things but her favorite were dragonfly and hummingbird items.
Cori was a member of the South Dakota Jaycees and was a member of the Maine Jaycees where she had the distinction of holding many offices including First Lady and achieving the honor of Ambassador for Outstanding Service for the organization.
Cori is predeceased by her husband- Gary Joseph Vavra, whom she married on Nov. 2, 1974.
She is survived by her daughter- Melissa Vavra of Buxton; siblings- Neal Bangs and his wife Sylvia of Portland, Carol Maynard and her husband George of Windham, Calvin Bangs and his wife Jinxia Ruan of Buxton, Christine Bangs and her husband Michael Bailey of Buxton, Charlie Bangs and his wife Rita Dunton of Buxton, and Eileen Bourassa of Buxton; a sister-in-law, two brothers-in-law, and father-in-law of SD; several nieces, nephews, and their children; and many dear friends.
Visitation will be held on Sunday Sept. 11 from 2-3 PM, followed by a memorial service at 3 PM at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service Chapel, 498 Long Plains Road (Rt. 22) in Buxton. Burial will follow at Dow's Corner Cemetery in Standish. Online condolence messages can be submitted at the funeral home's website, www.mainefuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society – Maine Chapter, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Topsham, Maine 04086.
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