Alice Jean Martin

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a remarkable woman, our mother, (Alice) Jean Martin, at the age of 83. Jean passed away peacefully, with her loving and devoted daughters by her side, on February 10, 2016, after a long battle with ovarian cancer.

“Wee baby Jean” was born on December 20, 1932 in Powell River, the youngest of five children of Kate and Tommy Anderson who had recently emigrated from the Shetland Islands. Education was important to the family and Jean became a teacher. She taught primary grades in Port Alberni in the 1950s and in Burnaby, at Confederation Park and Twelfth Avenue Schools from 1979 until she retired in 1995.

Jean was the loving wife of David Leslie Graham (1969) and later of John Dobbie (Jack) Martin (2015), both of whom pre-deceased her, as did her elder brothers, Tom (1988) and John (2014).

Jean’s three daughters were the lights of her life. She will be deeply missed by Catherine Ryan (Chris), Nancy Graham (Don Ferrier), and Laura Paterson (Steve), and their children, Patrick, Kathryn and Andrew Ryan, and Graham, Valerie, Erica and Alissa Paterson, as well as by her sisters Betty Berger and Kaye Franzen, many nieces and nephews, and her five stepchildren, Wendy Copiat (Nanny – deceased), Rosemary Pugh (Gerald), Brian, Carolyn Brito (Jun), and Ken, and their families.

Jean was intelligent, engaging and charming, with a great sense of humor and a beautiful smile. She loved reading, bridge, CBC Radio, and spending time with family. She walked every day, rain or shine, and travelled widely with her loving husband Jack. They sincerely appreciated the unfailing support and encouragement from their Church family.

Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Anna Tinker and Dr. Dianne Miller, and the nurses at BCCA and VGH for all their kind care and compassion over the past six years.

A memorial service will be held at Coquitlam Presbyterian Church on Friday, February 26, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC Cancer Foundation in memory of Jean Martin.