Martha A. Walsh

Martha A. Walsh, a thirty-seven year resident of The Original Leisure Village in Lakewood, New Jersey, died on October 14, 2010. Martha was born in Jersey City, NJ on November 12, 1915 to Teresa Muller Daly and George Walter Daly. She had the luxury of being the first born granddaughter to Martha Reuter Muller and grew up surrounded by her many aunts and uncles, all who lived within the same building and demonstrated that same loving care throughout their long lives.

After graduating from Eagan Business School, Martha worked in New York City as a Secretary. In July of 1937 she married Martin W. Walsh and they made their residence on West Hamilton Place in Jersey City, NJ.

As a member of St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, she was President of the Rosary Society and Grand Regent of Court Henrietta McWilliams, a Catholic Daughter’s Association sponsored by St. Michael’s.

Martha and Martin raised their three children while living at the West Hamilton house: Martin Walter, Jr., Martha Mary Chioffe, and Robert Alan Walsh.

After the death of her husband, Martin, who was then the Chief of the Hudson County Police Department, on August 22, 1968, Martha attended Pace University in Manhattan. She returned to work in 1969 and spent many years employed at the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office. On her retirement in 1985 she had attained the title of Senior Execution Clerk and is fondly remembered by those with whom she worked. While at the Sheriff’s Office, Martha used her organizing skills to run the Hudson County Drive for the Greater NJ Blood Bank, the Hudson County Hypertension Week and devised a successful campaign to have automatic payroll deductions for the United Way.

She also campaigned vigorously for the Democratic Organization Candidates and ran numerous luncheons, teas and cocktail parties to introduce these candidates to her many friends and neighbors. She was also a long standing member of The Children of Mary of St. Teresa Sodality, (the Teresians) and during her time in service with them organized many luncheons and trips, some of which were at The Casino in the Park, Jersey City, The Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands, the Shadowbrook and The Manor in West Orange. Because of her charitable and civic involvement in 1969 Martha was named Jersey Journal Woman of Achievement Award Winner.

She is survived by her three children, Martin W. Walsh, Jr. and his wife Sharon, Martha Mary Chioffe, and Robert Alan Walsh and his wife Andrea Walsh; eight grandchildren: Martha Klopchin, Martin Reiser, Elizabeth Walsh, Katherine Erickson, Michael Walsh, Sarah Walsh, Michael Chioffe and Andreina Walsh; seven great grandchildren: Julia Sahlberg, Jennifer Reiser, Martin Reiser, Jr., Emma Klopchin, Gary Klopchin, Martha R. Reiser and Tess Walsh., a nephew Rick Eggers and his wife, Barbara and a niece, Arlene Daly and her husband, Serge.

Martha was predeceased by her sister Teresa Eggers, her brother, George Daly, her son-in-law, Victor Chioffe, a nephew, George Daly and a niece, Teri Kopyczyinski.

Martha will be missed by her tender and loving caregiver, Jana Hanakova, who has provided her with the most tender care possible and her many friends. She will be remembered, not only for her civic and her charity work but also for her stunning needlepoint, her Bridge games and her beautiful way of being part of this world.

Her funeral service will be held at D’Elia Funeral Home on Rt. 70 & Vermont Ave. Lakewood, NJ 08701. Friends may call the funeral home on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9PM. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary of the Lake Church on Monday 10:30AM. Followed by her interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Spring Lake, NJ.

For further information or to post a tribute please visit www.deliafuneralhome.com.