Martha was born in Provincetown on May 31, 1935, to Irene (Raymond) Alves and Joseph Alves. With her four siblings, Martha grew up at Galeforce Farm: the town’s last dairy farm. At Provincetown High School, she was Sports Editor, captain of Girl’s Basketball, voted Most Athletic Girl, and proudly claimed “undisciplined children” to be her pet peeve!
On September 15, 1954, she married Arthur D. Roderick, the one love of her life. They lived in Boston, Virginia, Japan, and Germany until they moved back to Provincetown in 1963 where Arthur D. and Martha raised their four children: Arthur D. Jr., Neala, Tracey, and Amy. Around 1998, she moved to Florida full-time but for many years, she spent summers soaking up the salty air in her Truro studio apartment, where she could see Cape Cod Bay from her deck.
Martha was special in so many ways. She was a true athlete, active in various community organizations, and owned and managed the Galeforce bike and gifts shop for many years. She had a dynamic personality, a wicked sense of humor, and was an avid reader. She is known for being bold, a creature of habit and tradition who loved the beach and lit up whenever she was with her family, especially during their reunion trips on the Cape. Martha is the last of the Alves' and Rodericks (her husband’s family); the last of her generation. While it’s hard to imagine life without her physical presence, she remains the anchor of her family and without a doubt, every fiber of her indelible spirit is weaved into the fabric of those she leaves behind.
Martha is predeceased by her husband, Arthur D. Roderick (d. 1994) and her siblings: Veronica Alves, Kenneth Alves, Raymond Alves and Robert Alves. She is survived by her children Arthur D. (Sue) Roderick, Jr., Neala (Manny) Asser, Tracey (Robert) Maccia, Amy (Sean) Roderick. She was also a proud Grammy to Kristy Carballo, Andrea Poulin, Alexandra Booker, Ryan Daugherty, Michaela Sherman and Juliana Sherman, and Great-Grammy to Logan Poulin, Miles Carballo, Olivia Carballo, and Bodie Booker.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donation be made in Martha’s memory at dana-farber.org or Helping Our Women at 34 Conwell Street, Provincetown, MA 02657.
A religious ceremony for Martha will be held Wednesday, June 26, 2024 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at St. Peter the Apostle Church, 11 Prince St, Provincetown, MA 02657.
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