Martha McConnell

Beloved mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully at age 99 on December 9, 2013. She was born in Nome, Alaska in 1914 to immigrant parents, Fredriika Tavasti from Finland and David Westfield Johnston from Ireland. Martha (Johnston) married Charles Kenneth (Ken) McConnell in 1937. Ken, her husband of sixty-four years, preceded her in death. She is survived by her children Phillip Michael McConnell (Jonna) of Bellingham, Washington, Patricia McConnell of Salt Lake City, and Donna M. White (Kenneth) of Salt Lake City, seven grandchildren, three great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She also cared for Janell Johnston, her niece and daughter of her brother Edward Johnston (Nellie), upon his death. Martha was an amazingly sharp and agile 99 year old who inspired and delighted us all by her grace, wit, memory, and strength. She had a wonderful, adventurous life and loved to tell stories of her travels and experiences. She remembered every relative she had here in the States as well as in Ireland and Finland. All her family and friends enjoyed her special custom made greeting cards. Later in her life, Martha was an avid reader on her Kindle, worked crossword puzzles, and did her chores in the house and yard regularly even at age 99! Martha was an accomplished and dedicated homemaker. Her house was always clean and orderly, meals were homemade, laundry was always done, and she cared for her children with love and tenderness. She looked forward to watching professional golf and tennis on TV and followed the tournaments with great interest. Her knitting and sewing yielded items that were beautiful and meticulously made. Though she lived with her daughter Patricia (her angel of a caretaker) for the last thirteen years, she "didn't want to be a burden to anyone." Having lived through the Great Depression, both Martha and Ken sacrificed their own indulgences for their childrens' education, music, and dance lessons. Values of work ethic, kindness and compassion, and a love for the arts were passed on to their children. Martha knew she was loved and she radiated love to all who knew her. She will be dearly remembered and missed. "We'll smile and wipe our tears away and learn to love again and go on… I can't go on, I must go on, I will go on." (Samuel Beckett). At Martha's request, there will be no funeral or memorial service and her ashes will be interred next to her husband's grave in Sacramento, California.