Marie Louise Farrell Billings Born: February 18, 1946 Died: January 6, 2003

When Marie was a child, she noticed that children who did well in school received "gold stars" in recognition of their achievements and successes, but the nuns never awarded one to her. As an adult, Marie continued to hope that one day she, too, would merit a "gold star." Finally, having conquered addictions to alcohol and anger, having at long last brought her bipolar affliction to book with diligent medication and unremitting effort, and having been for many years a most dear companion, friend, and lover, for better and for worse, she was awarded her coveted "gold star" on her 15th wedding anniversary, March 27, 1997. In the last six years of Marie's life, that star of gold and diamonds, crafted by world-class artisan, Jay Cresalia, was her pride and joy. Now . . . Through the auspices of the International Star Registry, a real star has been named MARIE LOUISE FARRELL BILLINGS as an eternal memorial to the life she lived, fought, and finally won for herself. Appropriately, Marie's star is in the constellation Aquarius, the zodiac sign of her birth. Of magnitude 11.8, Marie's star is not visible to the naked eye, but it can be seen with a telescope. At the moment of her death on January 6, 2003, the precise astronomical coordinates of Marie's real star were: Right Ascension (the distance of Marie's star eastward from the vernal equinox measured along the celestial equator): 22 hours, 16 minutes, 50.24 seconds Declination (the angular arc distance of Marie's star south from the celestial equator): 20 degrees, 33 minutes, 46.04 seconds As viewed from the earth, the apparent location of Marie's star will not change appreciably in our lifetimes. Whenever you pause to ponder the marvels of the night sky, please think of Marie for a moment and remember what a truly wonderful person she had become before she left us. -------------------

Marie died suddenly and unexpectedly on January 6, 2003, of a massive brain hemorrhage. She was 56. A memorial Mass at St. Joseph Basilica, 1109 Chestnut Street, Alameda, CA 94501, was held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2003. For details, please see page two of this web site. In recent years, Marie was active as a volunteer at Alameda Museum where she served both as a docent and as a manager of the gift shop. She was also active in the community of St. Joseph Basilica in Alameda both as a member of its choir and of its garden club in which she was responsible for important innovations related to the club's annual tour of Gardens Galore in Alameda. A fourth generation San Franciscan, she was born February 18, 1946, and raised in Hillsborough on the San Francisco peninsula. She was the first child of Richard and Marie Waters Farrell. She received a bachelors degree in English Literature from San Diego College for Women and a masters degree in Educational Administration from Pepperdine University. After teaching first grade for a number of years in the San Diego unified school district, she returned to San Francisco to serve as vice president of Waters Equipment Co., Inc. In 1982, she married Thomas Billings and lived with him in England for five years during which time they traveled extensively throughout Europe before settling in Alameda in the Victorian home she had always hoped for. In recent years, she resumed active involvement with a life-long love which was painting, and enjoyed seeing her work on public exhibition. She also became intrigued with New York Times cross-word puzzles which she regularly mastered. She is survived by her loving husband, Tom Billings, two step-children - Bruce Billings and Bridget Bilinski - and four siblings - Richard Farrell, Christine Catenzaro, Anita Elfving, and Antoinette Brody. A life-long lover of animals, at the time of her death she was caring for five cats she had rescued - Tom, Blue, Shadow, Ally, and Doodette - as well as a rescued iguana named Iggy. In lieu of flowers, it was Marie's desire that donations be made in her memory to the East Bay SPCA, 8323 Baldwin Street, Oakland, CA 94621. Checks should be accompanied by a request that an acknowledgement be sent to Tom Billings, 1607 High Street, Alameda, CA 94501. Marie's earthly remains were cremated, and their final disposition is pending. Final arrangements were expertly and compassionately handled by Greer Family Mortuary at 2694 Blanding Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501. Telephone 510-865-3755. --------------------

Marie suffered a massive stroke just before midnight on January 4, 2003. It came without warning. We were staying in San Francisco overnight, and Marie had gleefully watched Atlanta beat Green Bay while she ate dinner. Later, suddenly, she said she had an excruciating headache, and a moment later, she said it had spread to the back of her neck. At her request, 911 was called. By the time the paramedics arrived, only a matter of three or four minutes, Marie had lapsed into a coma. En route to the hospital, she regained consciousness long enough for us to exchange a few final loving words. At St. Francis Memorial Hospital, an MRI showed that Marie had suffered massive bleeding throughout her cranium and brain stem, and the attending neurosurgeon indicated that her situation was extremely grave. She remained on full life support until Monday, January 6th, during all of which time she remained unresponsive. Late that afternoon, an EEG disclosed that all brain activity had ceased, and life support was withdrawn. Then within a few minutes, all traces on her monitors went flat, and she passed peacefully and painlessly away. Because of the extensive brain damage Marie had sustained, that outcome was actually a blessing. Marie received the last rites of the Catholic Church. I wish I could have called all of her friends personally and individually about this unexpected and distressing situation, but that was logistically impossible just now. At this point there is nothing that any of us can do for Marie. My son and daughter, Bruce and Bridget, have come from Southern California and my sister Dotty has arrived from Wichita to be with me Please keep Marie in your toughts and prayers. I already miss her terribly. She was not only my dear wife but also my very dearest friend for more than 20 years. Tom Billings ---------------------

Thank you for visiting Marie's Memorial Website. For further information about Marie or to share your thoughts about her, please e-mail her husband, Tom Billings, at: himself@tnbillings.com. Again, many thanks.