Sister Marie Martin (Henry Anne), 68, beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield died at home in Chicopee on August 16, 2015. Born in Springfield, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Henry F. and Cornella A. (Shea) Martin.
Sister Marie entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield in 1965 from Holy Name Parish, Springfield. She attended Holy Name Grammar School and graduated in 1965 from Cathedral High School. There she participated in school musicals and was known for her love of music. She also was a member of the St. Therese Club at Holy Name Parish. She earned a B.A. from The College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, and a Certificate in Youth Ministry from Providence College.
Teaching assignments for Sister Marie included Sacred Heart, Pittsfield; St. Lucy’s, Middletown, R.I.; Prout Memorial High School, Wakefield, R.I.; and Our Lady of Hope, Springfield. She served at St. Joseph Parish, Newport, as a youth minister, religious educator and pastoral minister. She was given the CYO person of the year award by the Diocese of Providence, R.I. for her work in youth ministry. Sister was pastoral minister at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Agawam and an adult religious educator and spiritual director at St. Francis Parish, Belchertown. She was media coordinator and consultant for the Springfield Diocesan Office of Religious Education. Most recently, Sister Marie was site manager at the Western Massachusetts Senior Center on Parker Street in Springfield.
In addition to her sisters in community, she is survived by her brother James Martin and his wife Patricia, her sister Peggy Weber and her husband, John and seven nieces and nephews: Meghan Bracewell and her husband Patrick, Kerry Weber Lynch and her husband, Colm, Matthew Weber and his wife Nell, James Martin, II., Kaitlin Martin, Elizabeth Begley and her husband, Jeremiah, and Madeleine Martin. She also is survived by three great nieces Charlotte Bracewell, Cordelia Begley and Lillian Bracewell (born Aug. 16, 2015) and by a great nephew Brendan Bracewell. She was predeceased by her parents Hank and Connie Martin and her great niece Marian Begley.
Sister Marie was scheduled to celebrate her 50th anniversary as a Sister of St. Joseph on Sept. 13 with the other members of her “party.” She especially cherished the time spent with them and the sense of real community that they provided.
The wake will take place at Mont Marie, Holyoke on Friday, August 21, 2015 from 10:30 to 12:30 with a prayer service at 11:30. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held in the Mont Marie Chapel on the same day at 1:30. Burial will follow in Mont Marie Cemetery. A light lunch will be served to all in attendance between the wake and the funeral.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.