Catherine Martin

San Diego, CA - Catherine Martin, 86, passed peacefully at the Beaver Meadows Assisted Living in Beaver, PA after a four-year struggle dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. The days leading up to her passing were filled with visits from her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, shared stories, many tears but laughter as well. Her room was filled with so much love.

Born July 27, 1932 in Belfast Northern Ireland, Catherine was a dearly loved daughter to her late parents Samuel and Jane Erskine and sister to 8 siblings. She married the love of her life Herbert H. Martin in 1952 and was the beloved mother to her daughter Viviane and son Trevor. In 1962, as a young family, they moved from Belfast, Northern Ireland to begin a new chapter in their lives in Victoria, B.C Canada but eventually came to the United States in 1969 where they settled in San Diego, CA.

Tragically, Catherine became a young widow in 1974 when her beloved Herb died suddenly, she worked hard and very successfully over the years to provide a solid foundation for herself and her children. She spent a 30+ year career at the Bahia Hotel gift shop which she later managed for many years.

Catherine loved to knit, she was an expert seamstress, she enjoyed cooking, gardening and caring for her Clairemont home in San Diego. She walked daily with her friend and neighbor of over 40 years, took many exercise classes and stayed on top of her health at all times.

She was a beautiful bright light to all who knew her but especially to the family she left behind including her beloved daughter Viviane, son-in-law Joe Toth, beloved son Trevor, daughter-in-law Terri Martin, grandchildren Heather Pollock (Harry); Daelyn Gratz (Peter); Lisa Lafferty (Gregory); Christopher Martin, Megan Martin and 6 great grandchildren; Karra Brown, Connor Lafferty, Devon and Cayden Pollock and Owen and Emmet Gratz.

She will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

A funeral service will be held to honor her on Thursday, March 21, 2019 11:00 am at the El Camino Memorial Park Cemetery, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., San Diego, CA 92121. The family welcomes all who wish to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Alzheimer’s Association where a tribute page has been created in her name.