Martha D. Foster

Martha was born on December 19, 1918, in Jacksonville, Florida., the oldest daughter of Clement Edward Dowling, Sr. and Martha Lowenstein Dowling. She graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in 1937. She and Sid wed on August 16, 1940. They were married for 56 years until his death in 1996. Martha was also a longtime volunteer with the St. Vincent’s Hospital Auxiliary.

She is predeceased by her parents, her husband Sidney B. Foster, her older brother Clement Edward Dowling, Jr. and an infant daughter. She is survived by her sister Rosemary Dowling Wall; daughters Mary Ellen Foster Olive (John), Carol Ann Foster Monroe Perkinson (Gary) and sons Sidney J. Foster (Wanda) and Martin G. Foster (Karen); 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; five nieces and four nephews; numerous great-nieces and nephews and additional family members and friends.

Martha /Mom/Mother/Granny/Aunt Cavy/Cabbage will be remembered for her kind, generous and jovial nature, her willingness to love unconditionally, her faith in the Lord, and her never-ending reminder that it only took two muscles to smile. She loved us all “a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck.”

The viewing will be from 6-8 p.m. on Monday at Hardage-Giddens’ Hendricks Ave, Chapel, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at Christ the King Catholic Church of Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, Fla. 32257 or St. Catherine Laboure' Manor, 1750 Stockton St., Jacksonville, Fla. 32204