Marie Christine Furlan

Marie Christine Furlan, age 97, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of devotion to family, quiet strength, enduring love, and a wonderful sense of humor.

She was born on October 21, 1928, in the Bronx, New York. She grew up surrounded by extended family, with relatives living in nearby apartments, creating a childhood rich in connection, companionship, and shared experience. She was especially close to her parents and brothers, Carlo and Mickey, as well as her many cousins, who were both her playmates and classmates.

Marie’s upbringing reflected the rhythms of a working-class family during the Great Depression—her father, a coal truck driver, provided steadily for the household, while her mother, a religious and intelligent woman, guided the family with care and conviction. From an early age, Marie displayed both independence and responsibility. As a young woman commuting from the Bronx to Manhattan for school, she developed a self-reliance that would define her character.

Marie joined the workforce in 1946. Known for her beauty and charm, she was admired by many, but it was her meeting with Dino—affectionately known as Johnie—that would change her life. They were married on July 23, 1949, beginning a lifelong partnership rooted in love and devotion. Together, they raised four sons: John, Robert, Christopher, and Michael, moving away from the city to Long Island when it was still mostly farmland.

In the 1970’s, Marie and Dino moved to the Hudson Valley where Marie’s love for wildlife and the outdoors blossomed, becoming active in the Audubon Society and the Hudson River Riverkeepers. Twenty years ago, she moved to the Delaware Valley to be closer to family while remaining active as a community volunteer in the local library, Longwood Gardens, and Riddle Hospital.

Throughout her life, Marie was blessed with a sense of humor and the gift-of-gab. People were drawn to her winning personality and she always charmed those who gathered around her. She leaves a legacy of fond, loving, and funny memories that will stay with us forever.

Marie is survived by her sons, grandchildren (Amy, Kyle, Gianna, and Robert), and great-grandchild (Gio).