January 21, 1947 – January 2, 2024 -Martha Janet Stewart (nee Hicks), age 76, passed away peacefully at home on St. Joseph Island into Jesus’ loving arms surrounded by family after a difficult battle with cancer.
She was born January 21, 1947 in Sault Ste. Marie, ON to John and Beatrice Hicks. She married her longtime Galilean Bible Camp admirer Harold James Stewart of Thessalon on June 29, 1974, and were together in love for more than 50 years.
Martha was friendly, loved hospitality and cooking big dinners, cared deeply for her biological family, in-laws, adopted “family” on this continent and in Africa, and many other friends and loved ones. She was lavishly generous with her time, love, care, mercy, and friendship to many, sometimes even to a fault. She was a talented seamstress, sewed clothes for her three kids, and mastered the art of stretching a dollar to help provide for her family and share with others. She raised and trained her kids with abundant love, worked very hard canning and freezing vegetables - her hands were hardly ever still and the kitchen stove rarely empty (despite her ‘famous’ married name, she never went to jail :-). Martha trained and worked as a Registered Nurse at the Plummer Hospital and loved the yearly get togethers with the nurses’ group from that era. She and Harold courageously pioneered homeschooling their children in an era when it was nearly unheard of, and their deep desire was that their kids would love and follow the Lord first and fully.
Martha leaves behind her husband Harold, grown children Jonathan (Marney), Laura, and Ruth-Marie (Blake) Myers along with three much-loved grandchildren Victoria, Ryan, and Launa. “Adopted” kids Todd, Daniel, and Rob Desjardins, Victor and Vicky Boateng, Dan Muhindo and many other Ugandan young people and children who she loved, prayed for, and helped to raise and mentor from afar - all loved her deeply. Martha is survived by her brothers Robert (late Sheryl), John, and sister Darlene (Terry) Witty and recently predeceased by her sister MaryAnn (late Bill) Kwantes. She was loved by many brother and sister-in-laws, cousins, friends, her kids’ friends, and many more nieces and nephews. Each of these held a special place in her heart. Over the last year, Martha and family especially appreciated the loving care of our local team of outstanding PSW’s led by Dr. McLeod, and home nurses Amy and Jessica who made it possible for her to be at home. Drs. Febrarro, Bowen, Gravelle, and Laviolette among many other SAH doctors and nurses were greatly appreciated.
Please join us in celebrating her life on Monday, January 8, 2024 at St. Joseph Island Free Methodist Church (1589 Hilton Road) for viewing, visitation and lunch reception for family and friends from 10:00 am - 12:45 pm, with the funeral celebration beginning at 1:00 pm, Pastor Musa Daba officiating. Interment will be held in the spring. Martha’s favourite colour was blue, and you are encouraged to wear cheerful bright colours in celebration of her graduation to Heaven and her new, true, full life above. She wished that all her friends and family would also know Jesus Christ and trust in Him as their Lord and Saviour. She was well known to tell people it’s not about what we have done, it’s about what HE has already done for us. Please share a memory, donations may be made in God’s honour to Galilean Bible Camp (www.galileanbiblecamp.ca) or to All Tribes Christian Camp (www.alltribes.org), two local camps with which she had special connections, as Martha came to know Jesus through local children’s ministries like these. A live stream of the celebration can be viewed via the @StewartTeamRealEstate YouTube channel.
Arrangements are entrusted to Arthur Funeral Home - Barton & Kiteley Chapel. Fond memories of Martha and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.arthurfuneralhome.com for The Stewart Family.