Marie E. Henkel

OLD ORCHARD BEACH – Marie E. Henkel, 56, breathed her last breath peacefully in the arms of her husband, Mark A. Henkel, 59, at her home in Old Orchard Beach on June 17, 2024, after 17 months of battling metastatic melanoma (cancer).

Born in Worcester, Mass., on July 14, 1967, of J. Omer A. LeBlanc and Bernice M. (Ulfves) LeBlanc (both now deceased) of Auburn, Mass., Marie was the youngest of a “yours, mine, and ours” family. Prior to her parents marriage, both already had three children, each. Maureen Welcome, Omer Gerald LeBlanc, and Gary LeBlanc (deceased) were born of Marie’s father, J. Omer. Stephen Fors (deceased), fraternal twin Darlene Kurtyka (estranged), and fraternal twin Donna Tozeski (estranged) were born of Marie’s mother, Bernice. David LeBlanc and Marie were born from the marriage of her parents. With siblings more than 20-plus years older, Marie grew up being called “Auntie” by her siblings’ children older than herself.

Marie’s father nicknamed her “Sunshine” – which stuck the rest of her life.

At 19, Marie moved two states away to live with Mark A. Henkel in Windham, on Oct. 25, 1986. Exactly five years later, they were married in Old Orchard Beach on Oct. 25, 1991, two months after moving to Old Orchard Beach. Sixteen years later, they bought their home in Old Orchard Beach on Oct. 25, 2007. Having no children, married for 32-2/3 years, Marie lived with the love of her life for almost 38 years until her final breath in his arms. Many labelled Marie’s and Mark’s special two-way devotion as a model love-story and marriage. Together, they were known to most people as “M&M, just like the candy. Two flavors: she’s sweet and he’s nuts.”

Marie Henkel earned an Associates Degree in Accounting from Andover College in Portland, in 1990. She quickly achieved her childhood dream, working as a florist for nine years at Roak’s Greenhouses in Portland. She moved on to work as a Small Business Manager for 18 years at Ray’s Small Engine in Biddeford. She started an online crochet/crafts business called MainelyHandcrafts.com. Marie subsequently worked as the Senior Manager for eight summers at Skylark Beach Inn in Old Orchard Beach, and simultaneously for six years as an optician / manager at Specs For Less in Millcreek, South Portland. Marie and her husband Mark bought and took over that eyeglass business on Jan. 1, 2022. They enjoyed working together side-by-side every day.

Marie loved her husband, flowers, gardening, cooking meals, baking cookies, crocheting, ’80s heavy metal music, and watching any Star Trek, British comedies, and Korean dramas with subtitles. Her beautiful super-long hair was her decades-long avatar by which everyone recognized Marie. For her last 30-plus years, she was 100 percent alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free; yet, she did like a cup of coffee and quite enjoyed chocolate ice cream. Marie could identify ingredients from a simple taste and could notice different shades of color that few others could see. Marie could name off just about every detail of various plants and could remember even little details of all of her and her husband’s history.

Marie always had a story to tell that made people instantly relate. At the inn, she became the beloved “American Mama” to many international “J1 Student” college-girls who worked for her, keeping in contact years afterward. At the eyeglass shop, Marie identified her innate talent “magic”: caring, solving people’s needs, and making them happy, especially if they did not start out that way. Everyone everywhere loved “Sunshine” and her infectious laugh. When engaging people, her lifelong loving legacy teaches us to stop and ask, “What Would Marie Do?”

Funeral services will begin at 12 p.m. at 50 Temple Ave., Old Orchard Beach, on Saturday, June 29. Visitation will be at 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a service and eulogy at 2 p.m. Flowers may be ordered through DobsonFuneralServices.com.

Donations may be made through MarieHenkel.com.