Mariana Fransesca Dukes

October 21, 1998 - April 29, 2022

Our beloved Mariana “Mari” Fransesca Dukes (23) of Eugene, Oregon, passed away unexpectedly on April 23rd, 2022 in Monroe, Oregon while kayaking with long-term boyfriend Joseph Bendix (26), also from Eugene, Oregon. Mari was born on October 21st, 1998 in Vancouver, Washington to James Lee Dukes and Mariana Jo Dukes (maiden name ‘Bautista’). She briefly moved to Benson, Arizona for a few short months before settling in Eugene, Oregon at the age of 8. Preceded in death by her father James Dukes in 2013, she is survived by her mother, Mariana; sisters Jamie, Christina (Tina), Jessica; step-father Don; step-sisters Shaylie and Alyssa; half-sister Jaqueline (Jackie); brother-in-laws Zach, Alex, and Aidan; and nephews Zechariah and Isaiah. She is also survived by a large family of many Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins. Graduating from Willamette High School in 2017, Mari later attended Lane Community College where she got her degree as an Aviation Maintenance Technician. Always full of life, Mari was adventurous, full of laughter, and had a kindhearted and bright personality. She loved gardening, fishing, kayaking, hiking, caring for animals, traveling, and spending as much time as possible with friends and family. Mari was significant to our lives in providing us with a sense of strength, love, and purpose. Her untimely death affects us all profoundly, as it is not often that life brings us someone as loved, memorable, adventurous, and irreplaceable as her. She was an outgoing, bold, and bright young woman who was taken from this life far too soon. She was one of the few who could meet new challenges with a smile and a stubbornly persistent mindset. She loved those around her fiercely and deeply, and made the memories shared with her unparalleled and unforgettable. Her loved ones leave her with unfathomable love, and an eternal gratitude for having had the fortune of spending such a short time with such a beautiful soul. To our beloved Mari - You will forever remain alive in our hearts and in our minds. We will carry you with us, until we get the chance to meet again.