Marcine Lake Obituary (1975 - 2017)

On December 27, 2017, surrounded by her siblings, Marcine Lake peacefully passed away from liver and heart failure. A quiet, middle child born to Joseph G. and Marta Lee Johnson Lake on November 6, 1975, Marcine was a good student and active with her friends. She loved being a big sister. Being so close in age with her younger brother and sister, they often shared the same group of friends during junior high and high school. It was during high school that she discovered her love of theater and appreciated bringing entertainment and joy to others. “Momma” Marcine came into her motherly personality soon after starting college at Southern Utah University. She was a free spirit who loved the theater, art, nature, spirituality, and fairies. While at SUU, Marcine met and married Matthew Ivan Bennett (later divorced) and graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts. Pursuing her dreams after college took Marci and Matt to Portland and Chicago, and then back home to Utah where she earned her equity card for stage management. Marcine spent her time in Utah involved in theater production and working with nonprofit organizations for the benefit of those around her. She married Christian Stephens (now separated) and found her greatest joy in becoming a mother to her step-daughter, Madeline. They shared an amazing bond over their mutual love of fairies and dramatic flair. In honor of their relationship, Marcine wrote and illustrated a fairy-tale book for Madeline a few years ago. In 2016, Marcine received an Associate of Science Medical Assisting degree and was working in home health care prior to her illness. Marcine treasured everyone she met and her “family” became larger with each stage of her life. Regardless of time and distance, once you were part of Marcine’s heart you were there forever and when paths crossed again it was as if she had just seen you yesterday. In Marcine’s own words, “I am so fortunate to have met so many amazing people in my life and from such diverse backgrounds, extending from theater to medicine and just about everything else in between. I am blessed to call you my colleagues, mentors, students, friends, family and to call all you Loved Ones!” Much of Marcine’s life was spent trying to do things her way, quietly and by herself, leading to a complicated life as an alcoholic. Marcine was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis three years ago but continued to struggle with alcohol addiction. Despite this, she continued to pursue her dreams and was making significant changes in her personal and professional life. On August 19, 2017, she made the commitment to recovery and was fiercely dedicated to her sobriety. Each day she expressed gratitude and commitment to her sobriety and was open about the effect her choices had made on her health. She frequently said she wanted to be an example to her nieces and nephews and to those around her about alcohol addiction and the cost that all the years of daily drinking had on her health. Over the last year, because of her health and other circumstances, Marcine was able to rebuild relationships with her family. She was living with her younger sister in Ogden when diagnosed with terminal liver failure and heart failure on December 12th. Following the prognosis of 6 months to live and placement on hospice care, Marcine moved in with her younger brother and his family in Sandy, allowing her to live the rest of her days surrounded by her family. She was so appreciative of the many calls and visits by friends during those few weeks. Just like the mother hen she was, she spent time taking care of others and making sure we all were comforted in our grief. Marcine was very clear about her final wishes and the few things she felt she needed to see through before she died. She said, “It’s almost time for me to fly with the fairies.” As a family, we were very blessed to celebrate the “Best Christmas ever!”, as she exclaimed many times with that amazing smile of hers. Following Christmas celebrations, Marcine’s health rapidly declined and her large family once again gathered to be with her in her final hours. Though we had been looking forward to many more months of making new memories with her, we are grateful that Marcine did not have to suffer long as her organs continued to fail. We are extremely indebted to Intermountain Hospice for their wonderful care of Marcine during her final weeks. Marcine is survived by her step-daughter, Madeline Stephens; parents, Joe & Marta Lake; siblings: Machelle Lake, Craig & Susan Lake, Melinda & Kurt Brey, Brad & Stacey Lake, and Kirsten & Izzy Huertas; 19 nieces, nephews, and their spouses. After receiving her final diagnosis, Marcine wrote, “It is rare that you receive the gift of knowing that your end of life is coming. I have been given the amazing opportunity to be able to say goodbye personally to all of those that I love. I also have the chance to plan my last and final party, MY END OF LIFE CELEBRATION!” As Marcine wished, a memorial service will be held Friday, January 12, 2018, at 11:00 am at the Meadowlark Ward LDS meetinghouse, 2180 East Meadowlark Way (9020 South), Sandy, UT 84093. All of Marcine’s friends and family are invited and encouraged to attend. Immediately following the service, there will be a joyous celebration of life at the same location. Friends may visit with Momma Marcine’s family Thursday, January 11, 2018 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm or prior to the January 12th service from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. These gatherings will also take place at the Meadowlark Ward LDS meetinghouse. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Intermountain Hospice Care. https://give.intermountainfoundation.org/homecare-hospice Go #Flywithfairies Marcine!