Marion Cecelia D'Arcy, 85

Marion Cecelia D’Arcy, 85, of Polson, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at St. Luke Extended Care.

Marion was born on Feb. 1, 1932, in Polson, the daughter of Norris and Mary (Polly) Boice. Marion was the youngest of their five children. Marion grew up in Valley View and attended Reservoir Valley School, sometimes even riding her horse to get there. She graduated from Polson High School in 1950 and then attended St. Patrick’s School of Nursing and graduated in 1952.

While working at Galen Hospital near Warm Springs she met the love of her life on a blind date. In 1954 she married Charles Joseph D’Arcy and together they had six children. After numerous transfers while Chuck worked for National Cash Register Co., the family settled in Billings.

With her children nearly grown, she proudly returned to work as a registered nurse in Butte and later went to work for the state of Montana as a nursing home surveyor before retiring in 1994.

Following retirement, Chuck and Marion traveled to see their children and grandchildren. They went camping, fishing, gardened and enjoyed their family and friends.

In 2008 they moved to Polson and in 2015 became residents at St. Joseph’s Assisted Living. Together they enjoyed these past two years making new friends and staying active.

Marion was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Frank (Olive); sisters, Ethel (Arnold) Lund, Margaret Coulter, and Florence (Philip) Schmitz; infant daughter, Margaret; and son, Michael.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Chuck D’Arcy; her children, Patricia (Jay) Blanchard of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Frances (Jim) Wilson of Polson, Thomas (Mel) D’Arcy of Helena, Robert (Chris) D’Arcy of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and daughter in-law, Debbie D’Arcy of Casper, Wyoming; her brother in-law, Neal Coulter, of Charlo; and her sister-in-law, Mary D’Arcy, of Butte. She is also survived by her 12 grandchildren, Tiege (Becky) Gates of Fernley, Nevada, Chris D’Arcy of Casper, Kelsey D’Arcy (Mary Ellen) of Billings, Jamie (Tony) Blixt of Missoula, Kellie (Ryan) Grandone of Great Falls, Katie (Jack) Leiter of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Drew Wilson of Peoria, Arizona, John Blanchard of South Dartmouth, Brittany (Andrew) Provo of Sunapee, New Hampshire, Amber (Tom) Riley of Belgrade, Jessica D’Arcy of Helena, and Brendan (Heather) Foster of Fairhaven. Her 20 great-grandchildren also survive her.

Family was always most important to Marion.

Her lasting legacies were her deep faith, her feisty spirit and her infectious laugh.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening, Sept. 21, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, at Immaculate Conception Church. A reception will follow in the church basement.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.lakefuneralhomeandcremation.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the Lake Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson.