MARIE’S BIRTH NAME WAS MARYSIA WATNICKA. MARIE HAD ALREADY LOST HER GRANDFATHER AND MOTHER AND LIVED FOR A WHILE IN THE WARSAW GHETTO WITH HER FATHER.

MARIE’S FATHER PLACED HER WITH A POLISH FAMILY THAT HID HER DURING THE WAR YEARS. MARIE WAS FORCED TO WORK HARD AND ASSUME A CHRISTIAN IDENTITY.

AFTER LIBERATION HER UNCLE FOUND AND RECLAIMED HER BY FORCE AS THE FAMILY THAT HID HER WOULD NOT LET HER GO WITHOUT PAYMENT. MARIE’S UNCLE SURVIVED AUSCWITZ.

HE TOLD HER THAT HER FATHER HAD DIED.

UNABLE TO TAKE CARE OF MARIE, HER UNCLE PLACED HER IN AN ORPHANAGE WHERE SHE STAYED UNTIL SHE EMIGRATED TO THE U.S. IN 1949, WHERE SHE WAS PUT INTO FOSTER CARE.

MARIE AND HER HUSBAND SANDY HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND THREE GRANDCHILDREN.