Marcia Demkowicz Gnuse

On Wednesday, February 1, 2012 of Arlington, VA. Beloved wife of Robert F. Gnuse; beloved mother of David W. Gnuse and Janet Gnuse (Brent) Logan; grandmother of Braden Logan; sister of Judith (Richard) Hendershot, Carol (Joseph) Glaser and John (Debra) Demkowicz. Friends may call at the MURPHY FALLS CHURCH FUNERAL HOME, 1102 W. Broad St. (Rt 7) where family will be present from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, February 5. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, February 6, at 10 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church, 103 N. Spring St., Falls Church, VA. Interment Oakwood Cemetery, Falls Church, VA. In lieu of flowers, family requests contributions to the ALS Society, DC/MD/VA Chapter, 7507 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855. --from The Washington Post, February 3, 2012

Marcia Demkowicz Gnuse, a T-13, was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease. A couple of us were able to visit after the Global Reunion, and she was delighted. She could talk to us with the help of her husband, Bob, as she spelled out the words she needed.

You may remember Marcia from the Ankara Office, 66-68, or as the editor of Buralarda for several years at the beginning of this century. You can see her picture in photo #9 at http://www.arkadaslar.info/bayram_dinner_102702.htm.

We were arranging another visit for February when Bob wrote on Monday, “I'm sorry to do this, but I don't think a visit will be possible. Last Wed night, Marcia suffered a setback. She is on medication that makes her dopey when she is not flat out asleep. I don't expect the situation to change for the better.”

It makes me so sad. How come Stephen Hawking can live so long? How come it took us so long to visit, but I know you and I were in chains from about July to the end of Sept preparing for the Global Reunion. At least we saw that joyful look in her eyes. I guess I wish for that again.

I do remember Marcia very well for her cheerful smile and helpful attitude every time I came into the Ankara office. Those who shared that most influential period of my life have always remained close in heart.

I THINK - if I remember correctly - that Marcia trained with a group of secretaries who then went out to different countries. So I believe they actually trained in D.C. So she didn't train with any of the Turkey numbered groups.

Just yesterday my husband said he was interested in taking a course in the DC area and I thought if he did that I could go up also and visit Marcia. We had some wonderful times as roommates in Ankara, and then she came to visit while I lived in NYC for a year before either of us had married. Crazy times. We climbed up and down the Statue of Liberty during her visit and I could barely walk when we got down - but she was still rarin' to go and see everything NYC had to offer!

It was 43 years ago tonight – Valentine’s Day, 1969 - at the Farragut Lounge just around the corner from the Peace Corps office which was at 806 Connecticut Avenue, that Marcia introduced Winnie and me.

Marcia had trained with Winnie in the Volunteer Secretary’s program and, of course, March and I had served in Turkey at the same time. By Thanksgiving of that year, Winnie and I were married.

Marcia willed Winnie a lovely gold “Inshallah” pendent that they had spoken about. It is the sister to a “Mashallah” pendent that Winnie has. Bob brought it to us the other evening.