Edhat StaffMarie Genevieve Finck passed away surrounded by family in the early morning of March 6th 2018 in Santa Barbara California at the age of one-hundred years old. She was born December 3, 1917 in Maquoketa, Iowa. Marie had four siblings, her older sister Lauretta and her three brothers Leo, Harry, and Donald. She graduated Maquoketa high school and after earning her teaching degree from Maquoketa junior college, she worked in a one room school house for several years. At the age of twenty-three she moved to Santa Barbara, California with her fianc6, Gilbert Lee Finck. Marie then worked as an aid at St. Francis hospital during World War II and she and Gib had their first daughter, Bonnie Lee in 1948. Following World War 11 she worked at the clothing store Lou Rose for 12 years during which she gave birth to her son William Paul in 1957. She then worked for the California state Department of human resources until retiring in 1978. After the death of her husband in 1989, she enjoyed traveling to many exciting places and foreign countries.
Throughout her long life, she was known for her spunk and dry wit. A long standing member of the first Presbyterian church, she was beloved among fellow parishioners and contributed to the community through her many crafts. She was known for her beautiful craftswomanship and was a member of several quilting and embroidery guilds. She had some of her work displayed at the Natural History Museum in Santa Barbara CA and each of her many grandchildren enjoys one or more of her skillfully-made quilts.
Marie is survived by her daughter, Bonnie Dahlen and her husband Robert, her son William Finck and his wife Carmen, her granddaughters Lisa Dahlen, Carrie Contreras and her husband Gilberto Contreras, Jeanette Finck, and Michelle Finck, her grandson Brian Finck and his wife Kiana McCrackin, and her four great-grandchildren, Sheyna, Rashel and Derek Contreras and Aria Steele Finck. Her Memorial service was held at First Presbyterian Church, 21 East Constance Ave., Santa Barbara, Friday, March 9. Arrangements made through McDermott-Crockett Mortuary.
