A life that touches others, goes on forever …
Marie Edna (Fortuna) Bryant left this earthly world on March 12, 2026. She was 94. Marie was born on Dec. 11, 1931 in Hart, Michigan, to James and Edna Parker.
During her childhood, Marie’s family always had a garden. This inspired her to have a garden of vegetables and flowers wherever she lived.
On Dec. 15, 1951, Marie married Joseph Fortuna. Together they had five children and were married 30 years.
Joe was a career military man, who served 23 years in the U.S. Army. His service brought them all over the U.S. They were stationed in Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Hawaii and California. After a long battle with cancer Joe went to see the Lord in 1981.
Marie met and fell in love with William (Bill) Bryant. They found love while grieving the loss of their spouses. They were inseparable for the next 45 years.
Soon after marrying, they moved to Isla Vista on the far end of Sabado Tarde away from the UCSB campus. They loved the location, so close to the beach and spent many hours walking and praying by the shore.
They also loved living so close to all the students and were very involved with keeping student’s safe and Isla Vista environmentally protected.
In 1998, they relocated to Atascadero where she was able to pursue her love for gardening. She loved being in her garden and spent many happy hours tending to it. After spending many years in Atascadero, they returned to Santa Barbara in 2016.
Marie dedicated her life to the Lord. She was very active in the church and community. When she lived in the San Fernando Valley, she would visit the juvenile hall bringing communion and the Word to those struggling.
In Isla Vista, she was a parishioner at St. Mark’s Catholic Church. Marie and Bill loved witnessing to the UCSB students and bringing them closer to the Lord.
She was also a member of the quilting group which made many of the quilted pieces that were used on the altar and hung in the church until recently.
In Atascadero, she and Bill became secular Franciscans at St. Michael Old Mission San Miguel. She also worked with the homeless providing spiritual guidance. When Marie and Bill moved back to Santa Barbara they attended daily mass at St. Marks/St. Raphael’s.
Marie left us for paradise after a brief stay at the Serenity House in Santa Barbara. In her last days she was well taken care of in one of the most beautiful and peaceful places we could have imagined. She was surrounded by friends and family during that time.
Marie is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, William Bryant; children, Anna (Everett), JoAnne (Jerry), Matthew (Jane), Teresa, and Julie (Alfred); sister Myrna Housto and brother Ron Parker; grandchildren Joseph, Melissa, Melanie, Timothy, Terrence Joseph (TJ), Siena and Sofia; and 10 great grandchildren Trentyn, Zoey, Maverick, Johnny, Lucy, Knight, Kingston, Desmond, Elsa and Finn.
She is preceded in death by her first husband Joseph Fortuna; son Michael Fortuna; son-in-law Jerry Casey; grandson Chris Fortuna; and sister Marge Motekitis.
Mass will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, March 28 at St. Raphael Church in Goleta. Reception to follow at Westmont of Santa Barbara Assisted Living Center, 190 Viajero Drive, Goleta.
Ecclesiastes 3.1-8:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Serenity House of Santa Barbara or the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara.