Mae Helen Martin

Mae Helen Martin of West Hartford, CT passed peacefully with family by her side on Wednesday February 18, 2015 at Saint Francis Hospital. Born in Westport, CT on December 14, 1925 she was the daughter of Horace and Mildred (Wilkins) Beach. Mae leaves behind and will be dearly missed by her three sons and family. Malin Martin III of Towanda, PA, Michael Martin of Hebron, CT and David Martin of Orange, CA. She also leaves her grandchildren, Melissa Martin and Zachary Martin of Hebron, CT, Joshua Nordstrom-Martin of Phoenix, Arizona, her brother Howard, and sister-in-law Janet Beach of Baldwinsville, NY, daughters-in-law Karen Martin and Renee Martin, a brother in law and sister-in-law , Ronald and Doris Martin of Mechanicsburg, PA, in addition to many nieces and nephews. Mae was predeceased by her husband Malin Martin Jr. in 1978, and her beloved youngest son, Douglas Martin in 1985. And her parents and two sisters, Freda Beach Harris and Doris Beach Woodward. Mae grew up in Elmira NY, Sayre, and Towanda PA. She graduated from Towanda High School in 1943 and Mansfield State Teachers College (now Mansfield University) in 1945. She taught elementary school in Waverly, NY from 1945 to 1950, and married Malin Martin Jr. in December 1948. Mae and Malin Jr. led a full life raising 4 sons, traveling and moving numerous times. They resided in Ithaca, NY, State College, Mountain Top, and Wilkes-Barre, PA, Columbus Ohio, Rockford and Glen Ellyn, IL and finally settled in West Hartford in 1968. Mae returned to teaching as a substitute teacher in several elementary schools in the West Hartford School System from 1969 through 1978. While doing this, she also worked as a Sales Associate and in the Customer Service department at G. Fox & Co. In 1979, she started a 15 year career at Connecticut General/Cigna, working in the Financial department, retiring in 1994. Mae returned to teach, as a volunteer tutor and teacher’s assistant in West Hartford elementary schools. She enjoyed working with many young students, who were learning English as a second language. In recognition of her contributions, she was honored by the West Hartford Education Association as their Citizen of the Year in 1996. Mae continued volunteering for several more years at Whiting Lane School. Mae was a strong independent person and dealt with every chapter of life with grace, prayer, and determination. She was an avid walker and swimmer. Her love of the outdoors was shared with her sons on the banks and tributaries of the Susquehanna River in Towanda, and later with her grandchildren at her beloved summer cottage in Ashburnham, MA. She taught the life skills of skipping stones on water, reading Dr. Suess and Winnie the Pooh stories, playing Pinochle and Carrom, and keeping family memories alive with sharing her photo albums with her children and grandchildren. Mae enjoyed spending weekends with her grandchildren , building blanket tents, doing puzzles, and playing games; her famous treasure hunts for birthday or Christmas gifts will be missed. Whether it was collecting seashells or rocks, flower gardening, picking wild blueberries, feeding the fish off the dock, or showing young ones how to row a boat, her life was dedicated to giving, experiencing, learning, and teaching. Mae was an active parishioner of St. James Church, and a member of the Women of St. James. She always looked forward to volunteering at the Annual Antique Show held at the West Hartford Armory. As a resident of The McAuley, Mae looked forward to weekly trips to Hartford Symphony performances and continued her education well in into her 80’s, as she audited classes at St. Joseph’s University. The family would like to thank all of Mae’s Care Givers. From the staff at The McAuley in West Hartford, and the wonderful Nursing Staff and Aids at Saint Mary’s Home in West Hartford, to the Palliative Care Team at St. Francis Hospital and the Nurses and CNA’s on the 8th floor at St. Francis. Whether it was over the past several years or Mae’s last weeks, their excellent care, kindness and support is greatly appreciated. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that a donation be made to honor the memory of Mae to The Alzheimer’s Association or to the American Heart Association to honor the memory her son, Douglas. Or the Memorial Fund at Saint James Episcopal Church, West Hartford, CT. A memorial funeral service will be held on March 14, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Saint James Episcopal Church, 1018 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, CT., followed by interment at Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford. Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, CT is in charge of arrangements.

Mae Helen Martin

December 14, 1925 - February 18, 2015