Ruthe Irene Martin

Ruthe Irene Marschat Martin, age 95, died peacefully in her sleep on June 28, 2021.   A long-time resident of Sheffield, Ruthe was born on August 26, 1925 in Great Barrington, MA to Stanislaus Marschat and Mary Ann Weirauch.  The youngest of 10 children, Ruthe spent her early days working on the family dairy farms in Canaan and Sheffield.  She graduated from the former Sheffield High School in 1944, voted her class’s most athletic.  On November 29, 1947, Ruthe began her nearly 62-year marriage to Donald E. Martin of Sheffield.  Donald died in 2009.  Early in their marriage, the Martins moved from Canaan to Sheffield and lived there until their respective deaths.

She loved her family deeply and in her later years she lived to see her children, grandchildren and great grandson grow into loving and productive people.  Her joy in recent months was watching videos and pictures of her great grandson Emmet.  She was loved by many for her humor, spunk and kind nature.  She was a good listener and maintained many long-term friendships.

Ruthe was a poet.  Her poetry recalled her life and the relationships meaningful to her.  Her poems painted pictures with words and sometimes brought tears to your eyes.

Ruthe shared her family’s love of music.  During the 1950s and 60s, summers included long visits from the Marschat/Weirauch families.  These visits were full of singing, fun and laughter until you cried and your sides hurt.  Ruthe shared her vocal ability with the community by singing with the Cobbletones a barbershop group. For over 20 years she sang with the group all over the area, retiring only when she could no longer stand during the performances.

Ruthe was the last surviving Marschat sibling, predeceased by her brothers Albert, Stanley, Howard, and Raymond, her sisters Harriet Brewer, Gertrude Rohr and Audrey Beaupre and two sisters who died as children.

Ruthe is survived by her three children, Barbara Martin of Sheffield, Christopher Martin and Anne Martin of Sheffield, three grandchildren, Sarah Meeres Herb and her husband Matthew Herb of Mount Laurel, NJ, Patrick Meeres of Collingswood, NJ, Katharine Montgomery of Collaroy, New South Wales, Australia and one great grandson, Emmet Herb.  Also surviving Ruthe are Martin in-laws, Mildred Martin Cortesi and Clarence Martin Jr, five Marschat nieces and nephews, Mary Ann Marschat of Canaan, CT June Marschat Kelly of Randolph MA, Irene Marschat Edison of Old Hickory TN, James Rohr of St Petersburg, FL, and Robert Beaupre of Tokyo, Japan; a Weirauch cousin Arliene Cortelleza of Briarcliff Manor NY and dozens of Marschat/Weirauch/ Martin/Cortesi/Bassett/ relatives.

SERVICES — Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held Friday, July 2, 2021 at 1:00pm at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Sheffield, MA conducted by Rev. Peter Naranjo. The burial will be immediately after the service in the Sheffield Center Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Friday, July 2 ^nd from 11:45am – 12:45pm at Finnerty and Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, HospiceCare of the Berkshires, Inc. or the Southern Berkshire Ambulance Squad in care of the Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230.  To send remembrances to the family go to www.finnertyandstevens.com

The family would like to thank the many care givers who provided such wonderful care over the past few years, especially over the last six months.