Josephine Martin

Nee Scaletta

On March 2, 2011, with her family

holding her and after a lifetime of giving of

herself, Josie Martin passed away peacefully

and was joyfully embraced by God and all

loved ones who have gone before her.

Josie will be cherished and remembered

by her husband of 60 years Bill Martin, son

Art (Ardelle), daughters Ninette (Will) and

Maria, grandchildren David (Isabel), Karen

(Sean), Kimberly (Paul), Tyler (Gemma),

Trevor, Brenlee, Holly and great

grandchildren Jonathan, and Gabriella as

well as nieces, nephews and friends.

Born on Dec. 3, 1924 in Termini Imerese,

Sicily and having lived through World War

II, she emigrated with her father to Canada

in February 1949 where they settled in

Winnipeg. Soon after, the rest of her family

emigrated to join the growing Sicilian

community in the city. Here, she met her

future husband Bill and they were married

on July 1, 1950 amid the aftermath of one of

Winnipeg’s most memorable floods.

Mum touched the lives of all those she

encountered as each formed a part of the

garden she so carefully nurtured and cared

for. Her talents were many as seamstress,

horticulturalist, story-teller and CEO of the

family household. Her family was the

center of her life and nothing brought her

greater joy than her children, grandchildren

and great-grandchildren. The celebration of

a meal was central to Mum’s being and

here, she shone. The bigger, the noisier, the

more animated the meal – the better.

Josie’s faith was another dimension that

she lived and shared. In addition to being

one of the founders of the MB Padre Pio

Prayer Group, one of her greatest

experiences was her trip to the Holy Land

where she walked, breathed and touched

this special place. We know she is now

right in the middle of an eternal, joyful and

noisy feast at the Lord’s table.

To celebrate Mum’s life, a Funeral Mass

will be held Thursday, March 10 at 11:00 am

at St. Bernadette’s Church 820 Cottonwood

Road with Fr. Fred Olds officiating.

Internment will occur at Green Acres

Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a donation

may be made to a charity of your choice.