Marie was born in Tracy, California in July of 1927, to a first generation Portuguese family from the Azores. As a young girl her family relocated to Gilroy, where she graduated from Gilroy High School as an accomplished athlete. She soon went to work for Gilroy Telephone Company, and after decades of loyal service, she retired in 1990 as a supervisor. She met her husband Jim Duncan in the summer of 1949, and they were married in June of 1950.

Her friends and family all agree that Marie was a very blessed woman in many ways, one of which was being able to sense which slot machine was about to hit the jackpot. Marie also enjoyed spending time with her family, watching old movies, bingo, puzzles, game shows, reading, sharing stories, taking road trips with her husband Jim, and of course, playing the slots.

Marie is survived by Jim, her husband of 64 years, her son Arliss and his wife Carol, two grandchildren - Carissa and Danny, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Emilia, her four brothers - Manuel, Tommy, Eddy and Tony, and her beloved sister, Lena. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either the IFDES Lodge (Potuguese Hall) in Gilroy, St. Mary Church, or St. Mary School.

Public Viewing will begin on Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 1:00 PM with Vigil at 7:00 PM at Habing Family Funeral Home, 129 4 ^th St., Gilroy.

Private Mass and Entombment will be Friday, March 21, 2014 at St. Mary's Church and St. Mary's Cemetery, Gilroy.