It is with deep sorrow that the family of MATILDA "MAYE" MARTIN announce her passing Saturday, May 20, 2023 at her home in Lethbridge, Alberta at the age of 93. She passed away peacefully with family by her side.
Maye was born November 18, 1929 in Lethbridge to John and Lena McKenzie and she attended Lethbridge Collegiate Institute at the same time as her future husband Julius "Juicy" Martin but did not actually meet him until years later. She moved to Victoria at the age of 19 for a short period of time and met Juicy upon her return at a dance at the Trianon Ballroom. It was after a dance at the same venue a year later when he proposed to her in the Galt Gardens.
Maye had exceptional book-keeping and secretarial skills, including shorthand, which served her well in her career at Eaton's Department Store before leaving to start a family and then later with the Lethbridge Golf and Country Club and Higa and Wood Law Office.
Besides keeping her kids active as a stay-at-home mom, she was an active volunteer in numerous volunteer organizations, including the Catholic Women's League and Auxiliary St. Michael's Health Centre where she was treasurer for many years.
Outside the kitchen, Maye was always open to trying new crafts and skills such as embroidery, plastic canvas and crochet, making a complete crocheted bed cover for their bed. The only skill she didn't master was driving, yet was able to get four kids to swim lessons, shopping and her other activities by bus, bicycle or walking when Julius was not able to drive her.
Maye and Juicy enjoyed travelling and camping. They took their children for weekend drives around southern Alberta, and camping far and wide until they camped at Twin Lakes in Idaho and found it to be the place they would return to every summer for over 40 years. Their kids still continued to visit them there for their summer vacations and brought the grandkids as well. Still having the travel bug, they found a place in Mesa, Arizona which they returned to for three months every winter to socialize and for Maye to share and learn new crafts including computing.
Time marches on and Maye and Juicy settled down in a senior's complex, content to let someone else do the cooking and they could enjoy the company of family and friends (and chocolate making of course) year-round. She was a beautiful, happy, loving, caring fighter to the end and will leave a large void.
Maye is survived by her husband of nearly 70 years, Julius Martin and children: Jay (Bonnie) Martin, Barbara (Kirk) Hofman, Bradley (Lisa) Martin and Delayna "Dee" Martin and families.
Thank you to the team at St. Therese Villa for her medical, nutritional and personal care, to Dr. Smith and Care RX for their attentiveness to her medical needs and Fr. Prince for her spiritual needs.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2405 - 12 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 1:30 P.M. with Father Derek Remus celebrating. Following the Funeral Mass, Maye will be laid to rest in Mountain View Cemetery.
Kerri Bailey & Darryl Onia, May 28, 2023
Gwen Oliver, May 25, 2023