Colette M. Martin (1925-2013)

          Colette M. Martin, age 88 a resident of Kenosha, died Friday December 13^th 2013 at Brookside Care Center in Kenosha.

          A life long resident of Kenosha, she was born on February 20^th 1925. She was one of eleven children of Hugh and Gertrude (Willems) Schwaiger.

          Educated in Kenosha schools, she attended St. George, Washington Jr. High and Kenosha High School. She also attended comptometer school in Milwaukee WI.

          On June 26^th 1948 she married Tom Martin at St. George Catholic Church. He preceded her in death on February 5^th 2001.

          She was a lifelong member of St. George Catholic Church. (St. Elizabeth)

          She was employed at American Motors, the Simmons Company and in the lunch program at Washington Jr. High. She volunteered at Brookside and the Kenosha Public Museum. She was an avid seamstress and enjoyed playing pinochle with her brothers, sisters and their spouses. She treasured time spent with her family and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

          She is survived by two daughters; Donna (Frank) Ruffalo Juzwik and Sharon (Russ) Gename; two grandsons Alex Ruffalo and Andy Ruffalo; four granddaughters; Carrie (Mike) Borst; Shanna (Mike) Ebeling; Tara (Scott) Garcia; Megan Gename; and four great grandchildren; Keegan, Angelina, Tyler and Adeline. She is further survived by one sister; Sally (Arnold) Esser and one brother Joseph (Joyce) Schwaiger; sisters in law May Schwaiger and Cathy Schwaiger, brother in law Leo Valentine, many nieces and nephews, and special friends Sandy Sarzant and Alice Roemer.

          She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brothers Clarence (Janet) Schwaiger; Leo Schwaiger; Francis Schwaiger; Richard (Esther) Schwaiger; and sisters Rita (Sylvester) Smith; Sr. Mary Hugh O.S.F.; Leona (Edwin) Glerum and Gertrude Valentine.

          A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday December 17^th 2013 at 6:00PM at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Kenosha. (4816-7^th Avenue) Visitation with the family will be on Tuesday at the church from 4:00PM until the time of mass. Burial will take place on Wednesday December 18^th 2013 at 10:00AM at St. George Catholic Cemetery.

          Please omit flowers as memorials would be appreciated to St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Brookside Care Center  Activities or to Hospice Alliance.

          Colette’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you  to the entire staff at Brookside Care Center for the tender loving care given to their Mother over the past 7 yrs., especially the 4^th wing staff.  We are also most grateful to Hospice Alliance, Inc. for their care and compassion.