Martha K. Elliott

Martha Rose Kingsbury Elliott of Fairfax, Virginia was born in Fairmont, West Virginia and was the oldest of 3 siblings. Her family moved to Georgetown where she grew up, steadfastly devoted to her Catholic faith. She earned a scholarship to Holy Trinity High School in Washington DC and sang in the choir at Our Lady of Victory, where she and Robert Stanley Elliott would marry in 1949.   She worked for the Department of the Navy until they adopted their two children, Stephen Robert and Nancy Rose, choosing then to stay home to raise her family. She always told her children, “You are mine as sure as God made little green apples.” She was a dedicated mother, making a warm home full of faith, happy memories, good food with family dinners, and cherished family dogs.   Later in life, she and Robert enjoyed traveling and taking cruises to all parts of the world. She loved history, embraced learning, and had an often surprising and amazing memory for details. She was kind, caring, strong, fiercely independent and inquisitive. She delighted in beautiful things like fine china and roses.  Martha had two grandsons, Brett and Justin, who she adored, and lovingly welcomed the addition of Rachel into the family in 2014 when Justin married. Martha often emphasized she never wanted to be a burden on anyone and was able to live on her own after Robert’s passing in 2008 until she was 94 when she moved to the Virginian in Fairfax. After being diagnosed with cancer in March of this year, she accepted her call home with grace and dignity. She credited her long life and healthy mind to the blessings of God and support of the Blessed Mother.   Martha is survived by her children Stephen and Nancy, her grandsons Brett and Justin (Rachel), her sister Mary Frances Cooper, and several nieces and nephews.She is preceded in death by her husband Robert Stanley Elliott, her brother Thomas E. Kingsbury, her Father Thomas Albert Kingsbury and Mother Martha Katherine Kingsbury. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to The Little Sisters of the Poor of Henrico County, Virginia who cared for her Grandfather. http://www.littlesistersofthepoorvirginia.org/ “The right to weep must not be denied. Even Jesus was deeply moved and profoundly troubled by the bereavement of a family he loved. We can, instead, draw from the simple and powerful witness of many families who have known how to grasp, in the difficult passage of death, also the safe passage offered by the Lord, crucified and risen, with his irrevocable promise of the resurrection of the dead. The work of God's love is stronger than the work of death. We must seek to be 'accomplices' to that love, with our faith. … Death was defeated by Jesus on the cross. Jesus will restore all of us to our families.” -- Pope Francis, St. Peter’s Square, June 17, 2015