HAMPDEN - HAMPDEN - Marian Jaques Vafiades, 88, died unexpectedly Oct. 10, 2011, at her home. She was born March 23, 1923, in Natick, Mass., daughter of Paul A. Jaques and Helen Edna (Adams) Jaques. Marian graduated from Milton High School, Milton, Mass., in 1941, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, in 1945 and a Master of Arts degree from Tufts University, Boston, in 1946. Her varied career included performing, arranging, composing, conducting, researching and teaching music. Marian played both the trumpet and the French horn, and conducted both instrumental and choral music groups. She taught private lessons and public school classes, including at Reading High School in Massachusetts, Garland Street Junior High School, Hampden Academy and Northern Conservatory of Music in Maine. She performed in USO tours and was director of music for the armed service radio station in Fort Devens, Mass. She conducted community and school choruses and orchestras in venues from Massachusetts to Canada. Music was integral to Marian's life. Community work was also a focus of Marian's life. She served on boards and panels for Opera New England, National Endowment for the Arts, Maine Arts Commission, Arcady Music Society, Eastern Maine Medical Center and Phillips-Strickland House. Some of these groups also benefited from Marian's adjudication training and skills, and she also adjudicated statewide band and choral competitions. As a couple, Marian and her husband, Lewis "Lew" Vafiades, were cornerstones of the Greater Bangor area community, active in political, legal, and varied social groups and events. Family and travel, often combined, were yet another focus of Marian's life. From local trips to Boston on the subway when she was growing up to trips throughout the world as an adult, Marian loved exploring varied cultures, including their music. Family boating trips were important to both Marian and Lew and to their extended family. For years they kept their boat at Eaton's Boat Yard, Castine, and later at Great Harbor Marine, Southwest Harbor. Surviving are one daughter, Susan Vafiades-Diaz and her husband, Hector M. Diaz, of Southwest Harbor; one grandson, Christopher Lewis Diaz of Islesford; one sister, Barbara Jaques of Randolph, Mass.; one sister-in-law, Athena Duddy and her husband, William, of Dedham and St. Augustine, Fla.; two brothers-in-law, Nicholas Vafiades of Falmouth, and Ben V. Vafiades of Harwich, Mass., and his wife, Geddy; two special nieces, Judith Alexander Connelly of Block Island, R.I., and Jeanie Vafiades Billings of Eddington; several other nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Marian was predeceased by her beloved husband of 52 years, Lewis Vafiades; and two sisters, Bernice Alexander and Helen Jaques. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at All Souls Congregational Church, 10 Broadway, Bangor, with the Rev. Dr. James L. Haddix, pastor and teacher, and the Rev. Renee U. Garrett, M. Div., minister of Christian Nurture, officiating. Those who wish may make contributions in her memory to Phillips-Strickland House, 21 Boyd St., Bangor, ME 04401 or Marian Vafiades Memorial Scholarship Fund, Hampden Academy/SAD 22, 24 Main Road North, Hampden, ME 04444. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.