Chesterton resident Harriet Bernice Martin, 88, died Thursday, March 13, 2008, at the Arthur B. & Ethel V. Horton VNA Hospice in Valparaiso, following a brief illness.

She was born Feb. 19, 1920, in Gary, daughter of Harry and Dora Schraeder, who preceded her in death.

On April 8, 1944, in Alva, Oklahoma, she married Paul Martin, while he was serving as an air cadet in the U.S. Army. Paul survives and they would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in April.

Also surviving are daughters Karen (husband James) Williams of Chesterton and Judith (husband Russ) Hess of Scottsville, Ky.; a son, Charles Martin of Beverly Shores; a dear family friend, Daniel O’Meara; a sister, Doris Hoenig of Conway, S.C.; grandchildren Paul Williams and Amy Chew of Chesterton, Ron Borden of Naperville, Ill., Christina Perdue, Angela Schmidt, Jamie Durocher, and Bethany Wilkerson of Scottsville; and eleven great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Charlotte Vercel.

Harriet graduated from Horace Mann High School in 1938 and before her marriage worked at the Gary Works sheet and tin mill of U.S. Steel Corporation and Gary Armour Plate Plant. After raising her family, she worked at the Chesterton Microfilm Company. For the past 25 years, she and Paul traveled extensively and spent their winters in Mesa, Ariz. Harriet loved her family, cooking, gardening, and bingo.

Funeral services are scheduled for 12 p.m. Tuesday at St. John’s United Church, 225 W. Lincoln Ave. in Chesterton. Visitation is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. until the time of services. Cremation will follow. Arrangements were made by Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, 517 Broadway in Chesterton.

Memorials may be made to the VNA Hospice, 501 Marquette St., Valparaiso, IN 46383.

Posted 3/17/2008