DR. MARIA DIPALMA Indianola Dr. Maria DiPalma, Professor of Voice, and Chair of the Simpson College Music Department, passed away on Sunday, February 27, 2011. A Memorial service celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Maria DiPalma will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, March 24 at Smith Chapel on the Simpson College Campus, Indianola, Iowa. A luncheon reception will follow in Great Hall from 12:15 until 2 p.m. Maria served Simpson College with distinction for almost 35 years and will celebrate her life through music and through memories shared from every corner of the campus. We were graced by Maria's presence and are honoring her final wishes with this memorial service. Maria was born on July 30, 1950, daughter of Dr. Joseph and Mary Solowey DiPalma. She was one of five daughters. Maria received her education and musical training in the Philadelphia area, where she studied at Temple University, The Curtis School of Music, and The Philadelphia Musical Academy. There she met her late husband, Douglas J. Duncan, and together they studied voice, stage direction, and many aspects of operatic production with some of the most preeminent artists in the operatic world. They were married in Indianola in 1974, where Doug was teaching voice and serving as the Managing Director for the Des Moines Metro Opera. Soon Maria was working at Simpson College with the Admissions Department and began teaching voice with the College, where she found great success. Maria returned to graduate school at The University of Indiana, where she later received her DMA in Vocal Performance. Professor DiPalma served as Chair of the Simpson College Music Department for fourteen years. She taught numerous classes, served on and chaired various committees, administered the daily business of the Music Department, and taught hundreds of voice students over the years. In addition, during her time at Simpson, Maria performed annual voice recitals and numerous operatic roles with the College. Maria was a long time board member with the Des Moines Metro Opera, where she was an active fundraiser, make up artist, singer, and gracious host at countless operatic events. Maria was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas J. Duncan and her mother, Mary DiPalma. She is survived by her father, Dr. Joseph DiPalma; and four sisters, Dorothea DiPalma, Dr. Joan DiPalma, Yvonne DiPalma, and Mary-Jo DiPalma; two nephews, Giuseppe and Alessio Attanasio. She will be greatly missed by her family, hundreds of students, and her many friends. Cremation has taken place and services will be held at a later date.