Catherine R. Martell

Catherine R. Martell, Age 98 of Burtonsville, MD, passed peacefully at home on Saturday, June 25th, supported by her loving family. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 76 years, Jim Martell, on January 5, 2022.

Catherine was born November 24, 1923, in Alfalfa, Ok, the daughter of Wyatt Roberson and Myrtle Roberson.  She was the last survivor, from a family of five siblings, joining her mother and father within God’s graces in Heaven.  Catherine attended Roosevelt High School, in Kent, Ohio, graduating in 1941.  While in high school she was very active as a Cheerleader, in Student Government and a member of the school Booster Club.  During her high school years, she continued to excel at sewing, making her own clothes to include her prom dresses as well as clothes for the school plays.  Catherine met her future husband, Jim Martell of Penns Grove, NJ, in the Spring of 1943, while he was attending training classes, in Kent, as a member of the Army Air Corps during WWII. Catherine and Jim fell in love while corresponding, during his time in the Army Air Corp and during his deployment in Europe. They were married on June 14, 1945, while Jim was stationed in San Angelo, TX. After Jim was discharged from the Army, she moved with him to start her new life as a wife and soon to be mother in the area of Penns Grove/Carney’s Point, NJ. Once Jim completed college on the GI Bill, and the births of their four children, Catherine returned to working outside the home.  First as a bank teller but soon settled into a twenty-five-year career working for Carney’s Point Township as the Township Bookkeeper. Catherine retired from the Township in 1983 at the age of 59, the same year Jim retired from the Dupont Company.

During her twilight years, Catherine voraciously resurrected her love of sewing, making clothes, doll clothes, dolls, stuffed animals, quilts and keepsakes for her children and grandchildren.  Even with all that focus on her creativity, her greatest joy was family.  She loved seeing all the new babies as her family grew to 74 at the time of her passing.

Catherine is survived by four children: Cecelia Pfeffer and her husband, Lee of New Market, MD; Susan Mathes and her husband, Dave of Myrtle Beach, SC; Jim Martell and his wife Mary Ann of Vienna, VA; Jeff Martell and his wife Cheri of Potomac, MD. Eleven Grandchildren: Jennifer (Rob), Stacy (Rocky), David (Tricia), Christine (Dave), Sherri (Eddie), Michele (Steve), Rachael, Cassie (Ryan), Justin (Natalia), Jay (Leslie), Kyle (Jessica); Twenty-four Great Grandchildren and Thirteen Great-Great Grandchildren.

She will be sorely missed by her family and all that knew her.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, July 6, 2022, from 4 PM to 7 PM at the Donaldson Funeral Home of Clarksville, 12540 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD 21029. Funeral services will be on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at 10 AM, followed by a Repast at Resurrection Catholic Church, 3315 Greencastle Road, Burtonsville, MD 20866. Followed by the Internment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20906.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the BrightFocus Foundation for Macular Degeneration:

22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871

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