(CNN) -- Edith Windsor, who filed the original case that could upend the Defense of Marriage Act, says just getting the case to this point is a kind of victory. "We've made a huge step forward and a huge difference in how people look at us," she said. "And so, it'll happen. Another year if not now." It was the death of Windsor's life partner, Thea Clara Spyer, that led to the case. Theirs was not a fleeting romance -- the women were together 42 years sharing ups and downs, laughs and tears. They also shared what they'd earned together, including from Windsor's job as a programmer with IBM and Spyer's work as a psychologist.
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Edith Windsor and Thea Spyer met in New York and were together more than 40 years
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They couldn't legally marry in the U.S., but they did tie the knot in 2007 in Toronto
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When Spyer died, Windsor paid a large inheritance tax -- then fought it in court
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A court rules their union was valid; the Supreme Court is hearing the case
Her knack for programming eventually helped her land a job, and to excel, at @placeholder.