Martha E. Israel

Martha lived a charmed childhood in western NY. She graduated from Walnut Hill School for the Arts (MA), Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School (NYC) and also attended Wheaton College (MA). She married her high school sweetheart, Edward B. Israel, of Salamanca, NY, and on their wedding day, left NY state to drive across country to Ketchikan, Alaska, where Ed began his service in the U.S. Coast Guard. Their love story would last 42 years, until his death in September 2001. Their young family would soon return to the east coast, living briefly in NJ, before settling in PA where they loved their years in Holland (Bucks County), PA.

Martha was generous with her resources, time and talents. She enjoyed her part-time employment, but relished most her role of mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her days in Holland were filled with volunteer activities, serving the American Red Cross, her church, Northampton Presbyterian, St. Mary Hospital and her favorite activities, rocking babies in the nursery of a local daycare center, and Mahjong with the neighbors. Martha loved to entertain. Her dining room table was a favorite gathering spot for family, friends and neighbors.

She was a woman of faith, starting each day with her Bible reading and devotional. Her abiding faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, sustained her through decades of extensive orthopedic surgeries followed by long arduous recoveries. She continually surprised us all with her return to daily activities. Her “can do” spirit finally gave way to the diseases that plagued her body. Martha was an inspiration to many, never complaining, as she approached the gift of each new day with a positive outlook.

She is survived by two brothers, Brian (Carol) and Bruce (Joan) Erickson; sister-in-law, Joan Budzinski; her daughter, Carol (Chris) Casten; son, Chip (Lisa) Israel; and grandchildren, Scott (Hannah) Casten, and Sarah (Colin) Lehman, Katelyn and Karyn Israel. Her great-grandchildren provided her with great joy in her last years, Carter, McClain, and Savannah Casten, Everett, Asher, Declan, and Ava Lehman, and Mila Israel.

Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery at a later date. If you wish to make a donation in her memory, kindly consider, Dementia Alliance of North Carolina or American Red Cross.