Erna M Martin
Died: Dec 14, 2018
ERNA MARIE MARTIN
Erna Marie Haake Martin left our world on Friday, December 14, 2018 to go on to her next chapter. She has taught all of us how to love unconditionally, to be a survivor, to be grateful, graceful, faithful and beautiful.
Born in 1929, Mom grew up in Ziebingen Germany, she is a Survivor of a Soviet prison camp, who was able to escape with the help of a compassionate Russian woman doctor. She worked diligently to piece her family together after World War II ended - it had changed their world forever. Mom decided she would not let that experience define who she was, and was determined to make the best out of the life she was given.
After the war, Mom worked in a clothing boutique and then for the NCO Club (a non-commissioned officer’s club) in Germany helping with American and German officer relations. This is where she met our Dad as he was stationed in Germany while serving in the U.S. Army.
Lucky for Dad, he spoke German! Our parents fell madly in love, married in 1952 in Weinheim Germany, started a family and made a forever commitment to each other for the next 66 years.
After living in the US and Germany, they finally settled on purchasing their first home on Schooley’s Mountain, NJ in 1966.
Mom provided a loving home and was an excellent cook, who always chased us out of the kitchen so she could make her creations in peace. Mom made the best rouladen, pastitchen, German potato salad and lemon meringue pies ever!
You would never catch Mom without makeup or being dressed up, she made sure she looked like a million bucks everyday. She never met a stranger and made life long friends with so many.
Mom loved going to Atlantic City and went several times a year with Ingrid and made a few trips to Las Vegas with family over the years as well.
Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Marie-Luise and Wilhelm Haake, her 2 siblings Gertrud and Willi Haake, her daughter Nancy Martin, and her 2 grand children Christopher and Dawne Moyer.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Arthur J. Martin , her daughters Ingrid (Sam) Urban, Cindy (Brad) Simmons, two grandsons, Hunter and Landon, her nieces in Germany Gabi (Matthias) Buschel and Petra (Gerd) Martsch, grand niece Toni Marie, grand nephews Johannes and Paul and several great grand nieces and nephews. Mom also “adopted” many of our friends as her children as we grew up, who she held very dear to her heart.
Mom loved her family deeply and it showed in everything she did.
Love you to the moon and back!
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home, Hackettstown, NJ.
The funeral will be held 2:00 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2018 at Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, N.J. with Rev. Birda Ferguson officiating. Burial will be in German Valley Rural Cemetery, Long Valley.
Calling hours will be Thursday, December 20, 2018 from 12:00pm - 2:00pm at Cochran Funeral Home.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home and those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.cochranfuneral.com/ For more information please visit: www.cochranfuneral.com
Calling hours will be Thursday, December 20, 2018 from 12:00pm - 2:00pm at Cochran Funeral Home.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home and those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.cochranfuneral.com/ For more information please visit: www.cochranfuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, please consider donation to Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090 or American Heart Association, NJ Affiliate Memorials Program, 2550 Route 1, New Brunswick, NJ 08902-4301
Condolences:
Marjorie Tiner
#5
June 24th, 2019 2:24 pm
I LOVED the way you expressed your Mom's life and your beautiful feelings for her translated perfectly. May these deep, loving memories carry you through your grief.
Matthias und Gabriela Bueschel
#4
December 21st, 2018 3:14 pm
wir sind in Gedanken bei Euch und werden Erna in unseren Herzen behalten
Phil & Nancy Napolitano
#3
December 19th, 2018 2:51 pm
Cindy.. we are so sorry to hear of the passing of your Mom. You all are in our thoughts and prayers. Love Mr & Mrs N
Chris & Jan Linne
#2
December 19th, 2018 5:47 am
Dear Art, Ingrid, Cindy, and family,
Please accept our deepest sympathy. Your Mom was an extraordinary woman.
Chris & Jan
Benny & Laura Peyton
#1
December 18th, 2018 7:33 pm
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for all!
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