It is with great sadness that the Powell family announces the death of their much-loved sibling, Martha, at home on 14 June 2023.
Born in Port Arthur in 1952, Martha was a delight to her two brothers, Peter and David, and her three sisters, Mary, Joan, and Catherine. Martha had many talents, including a sharp analytical mind, a lightning-quick wit, a marvellous sense of humour, and a wonderful gift for friendship.
All of these were evident in her successful careers in finance, marketing, and communications in Toronto and her decades-long friendships with Robbie Goulden, Sharon Moon, Denise Castonguay, Caroline Pinto and many others.
Through her brief and mainly happy marriage, Martha met a toddler, Brent McIntosh, her husband's younger son. Brent became the joy of her life. The two developed a close, loving relationship that flourished and endured throughout her life. The mother-son bond between Martha and Brent became an amazing tribute to their mutual capacity for tenderness, love, support, hilarity, affection, and harmony. She loved him unconditionally and was immensely proud of him.
The gift of friendship began early for Martha with a group of little girls who met in kindergarten and have remained friends. She cherished the girls: Diane, Janie, Caryn, Christine, Lisa, Cathy, and Armida. Martha was predeceased by her parents, Audrey & Evan Powell, her adored brother, Dave, and her beloved brother-in-law, Dino DiGiuseppe.
In addition to her son, Brent, and her siblings, Martha (Aunt Mimi) leaves her nieces and nephews and their children: Charlie & Jaclyn Powell (Grace and Rhys), Claire Powell, Max DiGiuseppe (her treasured godson) & Samantha Roth, Martha DiGiuseppe & Michael Thibert (Elizabeth and Jo, whom she saw often, to her great delight), Sam & Adam Charles DiGiuseppe, Kate Leadbeater & Dave Damer (Hugo and Audrey), and Jane Leadbeater & Dan Dickinson.
Those wishing to remember Martha may make donations in her name to Kitty Kare Thunder Bay (kittykare.org/donate) where she adopted her beloved cat, Pinky or to NorWest Community Health Centre (dwatt@norwestchc.org), where she was a volunteer. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.
