January 8, 1936 – December 26, 2023
Memory Service
Date: Thursday, January 4, 2024
Time: 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. CT
Location: Wheaton Franciscan Sisters
Our Lady of the Angels Chapel
26W171 Roosevelt Road
Entrance #7
Wheaton, Illinois – 60187
Mass of Christian Burial
Date: Friday, January 5, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m. CT
Location: Wheaton Franciscan Sisters
Our Lady of the Angels Chapel
26W171 Roosevelt Road
Entrance #7
Wheaton, Illinois – 60187
Due to the rise in COVID and other seasonal illnesses, beginning Sunday, December 31, masks will be required in Our Lady of the Angels Chapel and all public areas of the building until further notice.
Masks must be worn for the duration of all services.
Burial
Date: Friday, January 5, 2024
Time: Following the Mass of Christian Burial
Location: Assumption Cemetery
1S510 Winfield Rd.
Wheaton, Illinois – 60189
Obituary
Sr. Mary Martha of The Holy Spirit was born of her parents Mary and Lee Friedman in 1936. They named her Rose Mary and, as the flower the rose and as Mary who birthed Jesus and still mothers us, she grew in grace and wisdom until her passing fully into the graciousness of God through Sister Death.
She was born first among 8 siblings so “mothering” grew her throughout her life and as she passes into the fullness of God, she continues such, and as she said in an article of the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters of 1990, “there is still work to be done and more kin to be lovingly companioned.”
Sister Martha grew into being a wise and faithful minister. As a “sistering” woman, nurse, midwife, friend, and gardener, Martha always shared life’s graces. She did so for 53 years in Brazil, South America, and then she returned to Wheaton. Now she continues to share her wisdom among us as she breathes the fullness of the Kin-dom of God.
One of her gifts and joys here among us after her return from Brazil, was gardening. Once when asked to name her major ministry she replied: “just being Christian.”
Yes Martha, there is still work to do. We still need to minister being Christian: there is still midwifing and birthing of God among us; there is still the tender caring of all God’s creatures. We are grateful you have shown us the way and trust that you will continue your guiding grace among us.
Birds that live on a golden mountain reflect the color of gold
