Jeanne R. Martin, formerly of Darien, died on Dec. 15, 2017, after a long struggle with dementia. Her children mourn her loss and are grateful for an end to her suffering. She was 91.
Jeanne Martin, 91, died Dec. 15.
Her devoted daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Donald Wright, took loving care of her and were with her when she passed away.
Jeanne was born on Oct. 6, 1926, and was raised in the small, rural community of Mount Gilead, Ohio. She was the daughter of Gerard Briscoe and Cleo Peck Robinson. Her younger brothers, Gerard Jr. and John, predeceased her.
Jeanne was a gifted student and pianist. She went on to Wellesley College, majoring in chemistry, and graduated in 1948. While at college she met William (“Bill”) George Martin Jr., who had graduated from MIT in Mechanical Engineering and Business. They married in June 1948.
Together they raised four children and lived in Natick, Mass., West Hartford, Winnetka, Ill. and Darien — moving with Bill’s professional advancements. When her youngest son, Peter, went off to college, Jeanne started work at the Danbury Mint, a subsidiary of MBI. She worked there for 12 years as a supervisor in Customer Service and later as a manager in the Accounts Processing Department. Jeanne left when she and Bill retired to Williamsburg, Va. in 1989.
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— This obituary was published by Legacy.com for the Daily Press of Hampton, Va. and the Darien News.
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After Bill’s untimely death in 1991, Jeanne continued to live in Williamsburg among friends and participated in multiple church and volunteer activities until 2012, when she moved to Whidbey Island, Wash. to be near her daughter Elizabeth. She died in a memory care facility and under hospice care.
Jeanne and Bill were very active members of their churches, wherever they lived. Jeanne was always a member of the choir and held several leadership posts. They helped start and raise funds to build a Congregational Church in West Hartford, were longtime members of the Winnetka Congregational Church, and were active leaders in both the First Congregational Church of Darien and the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church.
In one of her last leadership roles in the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, Jeanne helped lead the organization and fundraising for the Church’s Columbarium, where she and Bill will be interred.
In addition to raising four children, Jeanne loved to play piano — often for hours a day. In Darien, she played duo piano and gave several concerts. Jeanne also enjoyed gardening, cooking, playing golf and bridge and, most importantly, seeing friends and family.
In addition to her church volunteer activities, Jeanne also volunteered for Meals on Wheels, did hospice work in Williamsburg, and translated books into braille in Darien.
Jeanne will be missed and remembered by her children: Lynne Simon (George) of Evanston, Ill., Elizabeth Wright (Donald) of Coupeville, Wash., William Martin III (Susan) of Indian Trail, N.C. and Peter Martin (Kathleen-deceased) of Skillman, N.J. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, with three more on the way.
The family asks that you consider a donation to a local chapter of Hospice to help them continue their special work in support of families and loved ones in the final stages of life.