MARGARET LOUISE ELEANOR MARTENS (HOUSTON)

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MARGARET LOUISE ELEANOR MARTENS (nee HOUSTON) With great sadness, the family wishes to announce the passing of Louise, dear mother and grandmother on Sunday, January 6, 2008 at the age of 92 years, with her grandson at her side, after a brief illness and her half-century-long battle with osteo-arthritis. Her memory will linger in our hearts forever. Louise was predeceased by her husband Ernest Allen Martens in 1953 (born, family homestead, Main Center, Saskatchewan), her parents, Kate Matilda Gardiner in 1960 (born, family farm, Westbrook, Ontario) and Arthur Russell Houston in 1966 (born, family homestead, Starbuck, Manitoba), her maternal grandparents, Charlotte Eleanor Leonard in 1916 (born, Westbrook, Ontario) and Jacob James Gardiner in 1923 (born, family homestead, Westbrook, Ontario), her paternal grandparents, Margaret McBurney in 1943 (born, Beverly, Ontario) and Robert Houston, Sr. in 1934 (born, Lesmahagow, Scotland). A true Canadian with deep roots here, Louise is a descendant of a family (Leonard) who came to North America in 1620 on the Mayflower, and she is also a descendant of another family (McDonell) of United Empire Loyalists. She is survived by her sons Geoffrey of Westport, Ontario, and James (Lorena May Blondin) of Regina, and her grandchildren, Robert and Miranda. Louise was the daughter of a CPR station-agent and was born in the station-house in Perdue, Saskatchewan, in 1915. Her early schooling was there, and her piano-lessons only a short ride away over the rails to Saskatoon where she subsequently attended the University of Saskatchewan (Home Economics), and later on, business school in London, Ontario. With a young family to support, Louise returned to work (Government of Saskatchewan), finally retiring in 1982. Where did the time go? She will be remembered for her independence and her dedication and generosity to her family, friends and co-workers. She loved Rachmaninoff; but despised country-music. She was her own woman to the end. A memorial service will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina, Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.; coffee and tea to follow at the Family Centre.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 11, 2008