CASE STUDY 10.3 MARIE CIPRIANI IS LOSING HER LI-FE PARTNER Marie Cipriani was born in a small apartment house on the lower East Side of Manhattan 86 years ago. Just one year before her birth, Marie's mother passed through Ellis Island with Marie's three older sisters. Her father and two brothers, already established in the States, eagerly awaited their arrival. Years later, when Marie was an adolescent. the family moved to Long Island. Today, Marie lives in a modest two-bedroom home that she shares with Irene Wdght, her partner of 42 years. Irene, a petite 79-year-otd African American woman, has recently been diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. The disease has progressed rapidly, hastening Irene's decision to transition to hospice service. Jessica, the hospice social worker, met with Irene and Marie at their home this past Friday afternoon. Marie was making soup while Irene reclined in the warmth of the backyard sun. Marie immediately put the soup on simmer and accompanied Jessica out back to meet Irene. Marie was apprehensive because she was not sure how this s1ranger felt about two women sharrng their lives together. However, when Jessica asked them how long they had lived in their home and complimented them on the length of their relationship, Marie began to. feel at ease. Jessica worked from a family systems perspective and considered both Irene and Marie her clients. She discovered that Marie's siblings died years earlier. And, although Marie had one son from a previous marriage, he had died of congestive heart failure last June at age 64. Marie has no other close relatives. Irene, however, has two younger sisters who never understood Irene's relationship with Marie. 'They generaHy do not visit when I am around," Marie said, hinting to Jessica that the relationship with Irene's family is rocky. I don't know what they will do now because I am not leaving Irene's side." Jessica was concerned about what would happen to Marie after Irene died. Although Marie appeared to be in good physical shape, going through the grieving pro- cess might impact Marie's mental and physical health. Should Marie's health decline, who will she rely on for help? Moreover, even though the United States has mar- riage equality, Marie and Irene are not legally married. If they do not have all the proper paperwork in place, Marie could find herself at risk for eviction.