OBITUARY: Dwyna A. (Mattinson) Arvanitis, 87

Below is an obituary from Nichols Funeral Home:

WILMINGTON, MA — Dwyna A. Arvanitis (Mattinson), age 87, a long-time resident of Wilmington, MA, and Epsom, NH, passed away on September 27, 2024, with her loving family at her side.

Dwyna was born in Billerica, MA, the only child of her loving parents. She was raised in a close extended family, and thought of her dear cousins as siblings and best friends. Stories of visits to her grandparents in Nova Scotia were told with the biggest smile on her face.

At the tender age of 16, Dwyna married her sweetheart and lifelong love, John P. Arvanitis. John and Dwyna built a home in Wilmington in 1953, the year they were married, and soon welcomed their three children, John, Carrie and Peter. Her children were raised by a mother who demonstrated perseverance, dedication, determination and, most remarkable, unconditional love. She guided them, she cheered them on, and she held them when they needed comfort. She gracefully took on the role of mother-in-law, and loved her children’s spouses her own. As Dwyna’s family grew, she stepped into the role of Yia-yia with an open heart, open arms and so much joy. She loved each of her grandchildren wholeheartedly, and could tell you who was doing what activity at anytime in their lives. Her grandchildren loved visiting their Yia-yia as she always delighted in spoiling them and seeing them smile. As her great-grandchildren began to arrive, her eyes would sparkle every time she had a chance to hold them.

The Arvanitis family was a cornerstone in the Middlesex Ave neighborhood. John and Dwyna welcomed the neighborhood kids into their home, and raised their family within the close-knit community they loved. Dwyna enrolled in nursing school and completed her LPN, then continued on to obtain her RN. She was a caring and compassionate Emergency Room nurse for many years. In the 1970’s, she and John purchased a tract of land in Epsom, NH, and started building the Epsom Valley Campground. The campground was Dwyna’s passion project, which she and John worked tirelessly at over the years to grow it into a successful business. Dwyna loved the campground in all seasons, and loved her campers fiercely. She delighted in meeting all the people that passed through the campground, and was always happy to have them visit with her.

Dwyna will remain a treasure to her family and friends.

Dwyna was the beloved wife of the late John P. Arvanitis, devoted mother of John B. Arvanitis and his wife Tracy of Wilmington, MA, Carrie A. Whalley and her husband David of Southwick, MA, and Peter D. Arvanitis and his wife Cherylann of Epsom, NH. Loving “Yia Yia” of David Whalley and wife Jackie, Rachel Garvey and husband Chris, Daniel Whalley and wife Bethany, John Arvanitis and wife Lucy, Emily Arvanitis and her partner Zack Frost, Katherine Arvanitis and fiancé Cody Theriault, Christopher Arvanitis, and her great-grandchildren Ian, Samantha, Marissa, Summer, Luke, Abby, and Paisley. Cherished daughter of the late Durrel and Eleanor (Ogden) Mattinson, dear sister of the late Gordon Fillmore.

Family and friends will gather for Visiting Hours at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave. (Rte. 62), Wilmington, MA, on Tuesday, October 1st from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon followed by Service at 12:00 noon. Interment will take place in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington, MA.

Please consider a donation in Dwyna’s memory to the Live & Let Live Farm, Inc., 20 Paradice Lane, Chichester, NH 03258 or to the Epsom Public Library, 1606 Dover Road, Epsom, NH 03234.

To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website at www.nicholsfuneralhome.com.