Avis de décès de Marie-D. King

Marie D. King, 90 CAPE ELIZABETH -- Marie D. King, 90, a former long-time resident of Cape Elizabeth, passed away on May 24, 2008, at her home in Colorado Springs, Colo. She was born in Natchez, Miss., on Oct. 12, 1917, to Dominic D. and Josephine M. DiStefano. She graduated from St. Joseph's Catholic High School and Natchez Commercial School, both in Natchez, Miss. She was employed as secretary to Bishop Gerow of the Natchez Catholic Diocese, and as secretary to the director of Mississippi Power and Light Company. She married Cleo F. King of Brewer, on June 22, 1942. They were married for 64 years prior to his death in 2007. She is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law: Katherine and Robert Mead of Morrison, Coli.; Stephanie King and David Churlik of Livermore, Calif.; Diane and Gary Hassig of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Christine and Larry Stell of Brentwood, Calif. She is also survived by nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and sisters Elizabeth Smith of Natchez, Miss., and Anne Cook of West Monroe, La. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Lucia Chatelain, Louise McClean and Josephine Duffey, and brothers Dominic DiStefano and Joseph DiStefano. After her husband returned from service in Europe during WWII, they moved north where they lived in Vermont, Massachusetts and New York before settling for 20 years in Cape Elizabeth. They retired to West Monroe, La., for 18 years and had moved to Colorado in recent years to be closer to their daughters. Marie was a devoted wife and mother, as well as a consummate homemaker and gracious hostess for innumerable personal and business functions. She was a great lover of all things beautiful and created many of them herself with her gardening, cooking, sewing and interior design talents. She often surprised people with her quick wit. She left an indelible and endearing impression on everyone who crossed her path. She was loved not only by her family, but also by the many caregivers who saw to her needs in her final years. She will be very much missed. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary's Cathedral in Natchez, Miss., followed immediately by burial next to her husband in the Natchez City Cemetery. Flowers can be sent to Laird's Funeral Home in Natchez, Miss. Remembrances can be posted online at www.mem.com. Marie D. King