1/29/2017
“Would you like to come for lunch after church?” “You are away from your family; we’d love to have you join us for Thanksgiving.” “We have plenty of food for one more.”
That was our mother–warm and welcoming and always including others around the table. Meals were tasty but not fancy. Things didn’t have to be perfect to be hospitable.
On September 3, 1944, Dorothy married Paul H. Martin, and they shared an incredible life journey together. Dad’s ministries took them to Arkansas, Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Iowa; and Mother was an integral part of their ministry and filled many roles in the church.
Mother wasn’t pretentious but made an impact on people by being herself. She was always looking for the positive and was incredibly accepting and nonjudgmental of people both close to her and from all walks of life.
She was a wonderful and compassionate listener. We would come home from school and love to sit and talk with her. She was known for her raisin-filled cookies and always ready with tea or coffee for a friend or visitor.
Mother had a deep love of music and learned to play the organ in mid-life. She would disappear from home on Sunday afternoons in Aspen to listen to concerts at the “Music Tent.”
Wherever she lived, Mother made friends with people in the community. Her involvements ranged from working in bookstores and at the Aspen Times to volunteering at the hospital as a “Blue Lady.” The many Laotian refugees sponsored by the Des Moines Mennonite Church particularly loved her.
Known as Grammy to Shanti, Jessica and Christina, she gave the same warm, listening ear to them, and they loved spending time with her. She was thrilled with the arrival last year of her first great-grandchild, Joaquin.
Mother spent the last few years of her life at Landis Homes, and we are deeply grateful for the caring and compassion of the staff in Cedar and Oregon houses, and especially the Ephrata House in the waning weeks and days of her life.
Born in Souderton, Pa., to Joseph and Katie Derstine Hackman, she was predeceased by siblings Linford, Wilmer, Susan (Moyer), Verna (Moyer), and Walter.
She dearly loved her family and always worked to get us together. We will miss her so much. She leaves her husband of 72 years, Paul, and their four children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Ed (Kathy) with daughters Jessica & Shanti (Stephen Brown and baby Joaquin); Roger; Laurel (partner Jase Gehman); and Sharon (John Bowman) with daughter Christina.
Mother died two days after her 92nd birthday. She was a member of Akron Mennonite Church.
A memorial service is tentatively planned for July 29 at 2:00 in the Warwick Room at Landis Homes.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Caring Fund of Landis Homes, 1001 E. Oregon Rd., Lititz, PA 17543.
