ELIZABETH MARTIN (GOERTZEN)

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ELIZABETH MARTIN (nee GOERTZEN) May 10, 1912 March 7, 2006 After a lengthy period of failing memory and deteriorating health, Liz passed away on March 7, 2006 at the River East Care Home. She was predeceased by her husband Art, her parents Frank and Aganetha, sisters Nettie, Kay, Susie 1 and Susie 11 (the latter two in infancy) and brothers Henry and Frank 1 (the latter in infancy). She is survived by sister Helen and brothers, Jacob (Stephanie), Frank 11 and Bill (Dorothy) and numerous descendant relatives. Liz was married in the early 1980's but had no children. She lavished love and affection on all her siblings' children, especially in their infancy. Liz was born in the village of Sergejewka on the Dnieper River in Southern Ukraine. In 1926 she and the family immigrated to Canada and settled in Winnipeg where she found work as a seamstress. Her proficiency in needlework garnered her a position at the Hudson's Bay as an art mender for many years until her retirement. In her younger years she developed a singing voice of exceptional quality and during the depression years her vocal gift was utilized to good advantage in the choir and as a soloist in the little family church then located on Alexander and Ellen. Her singing teacher often took pleasure in demonstrating on the piano the lower and upper limits of her four-octave vocal range. As much as she loved singing, stage fright prevented her from achieving her full potential. Not the least of her many attributes was her boundless generosity and concern for the well-being of others which invariably took precedence over her own. She enjoyed preparing those wonderful traditional family dishes we all cherished so much growing up during the depression years. According to her wishes, no viewing will take place before cremation. In lieu of a formal service, a memorial gathering is planned at a date and place to be decided. Those who wish to take part may phone 832-0827 (Bill). Thomson Funeral Home 669 Broadway 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 11, 2006