Maria Wiksell

The world lost a bright light when Maria Pakker Reeder Wiksell passed away on October 18th, 2024. Born to Dutch immigrant parents, Franciscus and Apolonia Pakker, in New York, NY, on September 28th, 1934, Maria spent her first 18 years in the city. It is there that she met the love of her life, Richard Wiksell, as children in Sunday school at the Congregational Church. The teenage sweethearts married after high school but their time together was tragically cut short by Richie’s untimely death.

Various moves around the United States eventually led Maria to Hendersonville in 1972, a place she embraced as her own for the remainder of her days. She retired from Third National Bank and K-Mart, but stayed on the job as a single parent forever. She enjoyed a well deserved retirement and became known as “Nannie” to her grandchildren, a role at which she excelled.

Maria’s final years were spent at Legacy Village ( formerly known as Main Street)in Hendersonville. Her vivacious spirit and genuine interest in everyone she encountered earned her the title “Mayor of Main Street”.

Maria possessed a rare talent for seeing the glass half full in any situation which can be attributed to her strong faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This optimism, coupled with her signature brand of sass, made her a force to be reckoned with. She had a unique way of showing love, whether always ready to “put a roast on “ for company or calling all her grandsons “Sam” though none were in fact named Sam.
Dogs were especially dear to her heart, including her longtime pet, Ashley.

A fighter right up to the end, Maria defied the odds time and time again, refusing to be defined by her circumstances. She faced life head on and armed with a pointed finger for anyone who needed to straighten up. Her strength, grit and cheerful spirit are gifts that live on with all who knew her as Nannie, Mom, Mia or Maria. When the end did come she was surrounded by her children and her Legacy Village family.

Maria is survived by her children, Linda (Larry)Murray, Robbie (Tammy)Wiksell , Carla Wiksell , and Scott (Michelle) Reeder; eight grandchildren, Chris, Anderson, Mattson and Gibbs Wiksell, Melanie Murray Eidson, Alan Murray , Morgan and Trevor Reeder;
six great grandchildren (and counting), Anna Merrell, Elsa and Olivia Wiksell, Madeline Eidson, Isha Murray and Beau Wilson; her sister, Frances Kretzsinger and an innumerable number of lives that she touched during her time on this earth.
A reception will be held at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville where Maria served on the Mother’s Day Out staff for many years. Friends will be received from 10:30 - 12:00 on Saturday, November 9th.

Love from here to there
and there to here,
still alive, still shared, still near.