Obituary of Marsha Lynne Maffia

Marsha Lynne (Prose) Maffia was born on May 7th 1950 in Ransom, Kansas and lost her long battle with cancer on March 10th, 2022 at home surrounded by family in Scotts Valley, CA. Marsha was the first born to the late Ralph and Phyllis Prose. Her family moved from Kansas to Eureka, CA when she was 4 years old where she grew up sewing her own clothes, loving to swim, and enjoying the yearly travel with her family. Her father was the first to go to high school and she was the first to go to college in the family. After putting herself through dental hygiene school she worked her entire career as a dental hygienist, mostly in Scotts Valley and Felton. In 1975 she married Chuck Maffia from Eureka CA and they moved for a brief time to Fresno, CA before settling in Santa Cruz County, where she lived the remainder of her life. They had two children, Brooke and Justin, before divorcing in 1985. Marsha was very committed to her faith and political beliefs. In church she was active in bible studies, divorce recovery ministries, and because of her generous heart would help with most anything she was invited to, with a smile. She was hard working, always up for a party and spending time with friends. She loved cooking, baking and sharing it with others. Community was a source of strength and joy in her life. She had a love for travel, the theater, bargain shopping, dental floss, collecting shells on the beach and enjoying whatever each day brought. Later in her life she served on the republican central committee. Quite possibly her most favorite time in life was being a grandma. She lived to spend time with her 5 grandkids. Always having a craft, project, new books, taking them swimming, out to the movies or to do special experiences whenever she could grab time with them. She faithfully gave her time and energy to see them grow. Marsha is survived by her younger brother Ron Prose and his wife Kim, her two children Brooke Wang and Justin Maffia, and her 5 grandchildren Sophina Wang, Abigail Wang, Micha Maffia, Luca Maffia and Ella Maffia. A memorial for her will be held on May 7th at 10am at Santa Cruz Bible Church at 440 Frederick St, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation in her name to World Vision, one of the charities she regularly supported or Heartland Hospice of Capitola who were fabulous in her end of life care.