Marie Lefebvre died peacefully in the company of her family and close friends after a battle with leukemia Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Marie was born January 2, 1954 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Robert Gordon Higgins and Genevieve Marie Berthelin. She graduated Armstrong High School, Plymouth, MN in 1972 and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education at the University of Minnesota in 1976 after which she became an exceptional distributive education teacher.
She moved to California in 1978. She was a huge football fan, changing her allegiance from the Minnesota Vikings to the San Francisco 49ers. She loved Joe Montana.
She met the love of her life, Denis Lefebvre in 1986 and married in 1987 becoming a loving stepmother to Denis’ sons, Jesse and Jean-Paul. She was gifted in sales and special events planning and worked for nine years at the National Steinbeck Center and the SPCA of Monterey County. As part of her legacy is her love for animals.
Thanks to her beloved dog, Shiloh, she influenced at least three people to become dog owners! She and Denis enjoyed traveling on cruises, especially Hawaii, and annual trips to Lake Tahoe enjoying biking and hiking. She adored living on the central coast of California especially visiting Pismo & Avila beach and the neighboring vineyards.
She volunteered side by side with her husband through her church in homeless ministries, led classes for new believers, co-led a community study group. Marie had a passion for prayer and served on the SVCC prayer team. She was a wonderful wife, daughter and best friend to her brothers and a doting grandmother.
It’s a testament to how special she made you feel that many people considered her one of their closest friends. Most remarkable about Marie is that she was a woman of great faith and constant prayer. She shared her faith with others and embodied kindness and hospitality.
She loved inviting people to her home and gave great attention to the details, creating a beautiful environment for fellowship, and sharing her gift of cooking. She leaves behind her husband, Denis Lefebvre, her brothers, Mike and Chuck Higgins and their families, stepsons, Jesse and Jean Paul Lefebvre and his wife Shanna, and her grandchildren Isabel, Devin and Isaac as well as many dear friends and extended family. She was loved by so many.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Salinas Valley Community Church, 368 San Juan Grade Road, Salinas, CA. 93906. A reception will follow after the service.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to Salinas Valley Community Church or the SPCA of Monterey County would be appreciated.
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