NATCHEZ – A funeral mass for Marie D. King, 90, of Colorado Springs, Colo., formerly of Natchez, who died Saturday, May 24, 2008, at her residence, will be at 11 a.m. today at St. Mary Basilica.
Burial will follow at Natchez City Cemetery, next to her husband, under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Mrs. King was born Oct. 12, 1917, in Natchez, the daughter of Dominic C. and Josephine M. DiStefano. She graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic High School and Natchez Commercial School. 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.
Mrs. King married Cleo F. King, of Brewer, Maine, on June 22, 1942. After her husband returned from service in Europe during World War II, they moved north where they lived in Vermont, Massachusetts and New York before settling for 20 years in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. They retired to West Monroe, La., for 18 years and had moved to Colorado in recent years to be closer to their daughters. They were married for 64 years prior to her husband’s death in 2007.
Mrs. King 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 and her love of ice hockey.
Mrs. King 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 missed very much.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Lucia Chatelain, Louise McLean and Josephine Duffey; and two brothers, Dominic DiStefano and Joseph DiStefano.
Survivors include four daughters, Katherine Mead and husband, Robert, both of Morrison, Colo., Stephanie King and David Churlik, both of Livermore, Calif., Diane Hassig and husband, Gary, both of Colorado Springs and Christine Stell and husband, Larry, both of Brentwood, Calif.; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Elizabeth Smith of Natchez and Anne Cook of West Monroe, La.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.