EILEEN MILDRED MARTIN

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EILEEN MILDRED MARTIN (née JACK, formerly ASSELS) It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Eileen Martin, on December 20, 2014 at her home in Peterborough, Ontario. She was 97. Former long-term resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Eileen was born in Emo, Ontario on August 8, 1917 to Lewis and Amelia (Herman) Jack, on the family farm. Eileen was the third of five children. She was predeceased by one sister, Naida (late Charlie Lalonde) and two brothers, Elder (late Jean) and Harvey (Fay of Castlegar, BC). She is survived by one younger sister, Hilda (late Jim Sweet) of Ear Falls, Ontario. Eileen's first husband was Clifford Assels (deceased) of Stony Mountain, Manitoba. Clifford and Eileen had two sons, Gary and Brian. Later in life, Eileen married Ron Martin, with whom she resided until Ron's death in 2001. In 2008, she left Winnipeg and moved to Peterborough, Ontario. Eileen had an ear for music and, without any lessons, taught herself to play the piano. She was an accomplished seamstress and also had a unique talent for art. Unfortunately, this never developed to its full potential, but some examples of her skills in pencil and watercolour still exist. One of Eileen's most impressive attributes was her memory. As a young child, she memorized an adaptation of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." It began "Coruscate, coruscate, diminutive stellar orb" and continued with very elaborate and descriptive words. It was quite a feat for a little girl to remember and recite the poem in front of her classmates (at Lash School #10) but, more than that, to recall it, with complete accuracy, well into her 90s. Among many other things, we will miss her quick wit, positive attitude, and love of life. Eileen is lovingly remembered by Gary (Rosemary) of Peterborough, Ontario and Brian (Lili) of Adelaide, Australia, her grandchildren Angela (Mick), Jennifer, Matthew, Andrew, Stephanie, Heather (Jon), and André, as well as great grandchildren, Jacob, Tyler, Hayden, Sam, and Cooper. She will also be dearly missed by many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Eileen's life will take place in the spring, in Emo, Ontario; date to be determined.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 07, 2015