Martha Teitsma

Martha Teitsma, 89, beloved mother and grandmother, went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 11, 2024. Martha was born in the Netherlands. She was a World War II survivor and immigrated to the United States with her parents and older sister. A few years later, she married and had four children. Martha and her family moved to Oswego, New York where she became a loving grandmother and great- grandmother. She was so grateful that she lived long enough so that she could meet her great-grandchildren. Her most rewarding experience in her life was being a mother and grandmother.

Educated in the Netherlands, she was trained in culinary and baking, pastry arts, tailoring, and cosmetology with a specialty in hairdressing. She received a dental assistant certificate and a
cosmetology license in the United States.

Her parents had owned a bakery before owning a neighborhood grocery store. As an eleven-year-old child, she learned business skills while she worked in the store and delivered groceries six
days a week for her parents.

She was employed at Oswego Hospital during the 70’s as a baker. Later she worked in the nursing field, fulfilling a childhood dream of helping the disabled, sick, and dying. She loved hairdressing, and for many years she traveled to the homes of the elderly where she beautified them and raised their self-esteem.

Multitalented, spontaneous, and having a zest for life, she loved to find ways to bring delight and unexpected pleasure to her loved ones and most others. Her hands were never idle, she was creative and loved to knit, crochet, embroider, and sew. Compassionate, generous, and eager to please, she would shower her family and many others with beautifully designed and crafted handmade gifts of sweaters, blankets, hats, mittens, dolls, scarfs, clothes as well as food, money, haircuts, and an assortment of items that people needed but could not get for themselves, and affection. This abundant giving was her love language. With all that she gave us, she surely loved us immensely. She was most satisfied when she could make a tangible contribution and was most gratified to see and hear that her efforts had made a difference to someone in need.

Martha was exuberant, with unbounding energy; she was artistic, incredibly courageous, and hardworking. Her God given talent was her sweet soprano bell-like voice; she grew up singing in a choir throughout her childhood into young adulthood. Her beautiful voice would spontaneously break into songs of praise. Martha’s beautiful voice has joined the heavenly chorus. As we celebrate her entrance into eternal life, may we keep her song alive in our hearts.

May God give you His comfort and His peace, His light and His joy, in this world and the next; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

God is the driving force of her existence, the meaning behind her life.

“As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied in Your likeness. (Psalm 17:15) 

A private service will be held at a later date.

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