Tribute

Mom was born to Isaac & Susanna Kasper on February 5, 1934 (the 4th child of 6) at the family farmhouse in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan where she had many fond memories. At the age of 11 (1945) the family packed up and moved to Yarrow, B.C. where they lived and raised their children on their family farm on Boundary Road. Mom was raised in a loving Christian home
where she grew to know and love the Lord. At the age of 13 she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour while attending special revival meetings at one of the Yarrow churches.
At the age of 18 Mom left home to work in Vancouver. She later met and married George Martens who was the love of her life. (We believe dad first spotted mom in Greendale while picking hops.) The new couple resided in Burnaby and were blessed with 3 children- Ken in 1954, Ron in 1956 and Charlene in 1959.
The spring of 1964 the Martens family moved to Yarrow. We built our home on First Street where we spent the rest of our childhood. We were close to our grandparents and many relatives. Our family attended the Yarrow Alliance Church and became part of the community.
January 6,1969 our dad passed away suddenly, leaving our mom with 3 young children. September 1969 mom went to work full time at B.C. Tel. where she was employed for 25 years until her retirement at the age of 60. Mom was a brave and courageous woman and provided for us in amazing ways. A year following our dad’s passing mom packed us all up and we were off on a road trip to Disneyland. A second trip followed a couple years later and included an adventure into Tijuana, Mexico. These trips were the most memorable times as a family.
Following mom’s retirement she enjoyed volunteering at M.C.C. and at Northview church office where we all attended since 1980 after moving to Abbotsford. Beside her employment and volunteer work she took several big trips; Hawaii, Europe, Mexico, a cruise through the Panama Canal, and South America to visit family.
Mom always loved being together with family especially after the grandchildren started to arrive. Grammie doted on all her grandchildren and great grandchildren and always tried to keep up to date on all of their activities.
She loved her morning coffee and was always game to go out to House of James for her favourite medium blend or her usual standby coffee and fruit & fibre muffin at McDonalds.
2010 was a sorrowful year for mom with her grandson’s passing. She fought many challenges in the following years; lymphoma in 2017 that she was healed from, and an infection of the gallbladder in 2021. Her faith was strong and her prayer life deep.
She prayed without ceasing for all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. A beautiful legacy she has left with us. Mom had a sensitive, caring, kind compassionate heart and we will miss her beyond words. We rejoice she is in her eternal home dwelling in the House of the Lord forever.
Mom is predeceased by her husband George, her parents Isaac & Susanna, sister Sue, brothers Ike, John, Bill, and grandson Scott. She is lovingly remembered by her children – Ken (Jan), Ron (Barb), Charlene (Rod); 8 grandchildren – Michelle (Tim), Amanda (Tom), Mike (Maegan), Kristin (Barry), Josh, Aaron, James (Becky), Jesse; 9 great grandchildren- Gracie, Cooper, Nina, Marie, Jaxon, Jovie, Otto, Olivia and Sawyer.