Still missing you as much today as any other day. You were a great sister and friend.
Love you
David

Happy Heavenly Birthday Martha. Miss you.

Dearest Sister: Of course, another year has gone by and they go by quicker and quicker the older I get!! Miss you lots and think of you often. You would love our house here in Florida and we would have loved to have you here. Remember when Aunt Jean and Aunt Marion would visit our grandmother for a month at a time. We had such good times at her house, especially for Christmas which is coming up FAST. Lucky died this year and we miss him as well....hope he is in heaven with you. Love, Carol

Hey Sis!!!! Wrote another story to commemorate this day...your loss is still felt throughout the family...a testament to the impact you had on all our lives!!!! Miss you much!
Love, Deb

Martha, Again I must say that your passing was such a sad day, and it has never gotten any better over the past 9 years. I Miss you as much today as the day you left us. 

My dear sister, Martha, You are much missed by all the family, and we just wish you were still here in person because of how special you were. I remember so many good times together from childhood to grown up. We know, however, that you are always with us in spirit and that you are thought of often...never forgotten.
Much love, Carol

What can I say that has not already been said. But this is my tribute to Martha.
God broke the mold after Martha. Martha was the best of us and I will NEVER forget her.
Through her entire life she thought of the other person even when things got tough and for Martha they were many but she always came through with a smile on her face.
I could write thousands of words about Martha and me but the reality was that Martha was my favorite and will live in my heart and mind forever.
Bill

Martha, it is another year since you left us. I only wish you were still with us. You were the light of the Xanten family and are sorely missed.
David

Hey Sis, wrote another tribute on the Stories section, in honor of your Birthday!  Miss you everyday! 

Lot of Love,
Deb

Dear aunt Martha, another year has passed and we all miss you still… wishing you a very happy birthday.

Much love to you today and every day ❤️

Susan

As always, Aunt Martha, I’m a day late and a dollar short. Today is the 18th. I’ve just looked through the photos and tears are welling up as I remember YOU! Tears of joy and a smile on my face just remembering my life with you in it. I am glad you are at peace and I can’t wait to see you again. XO Tiff

Happy Birthday Martha, Wish you were still with us, but I know you are in a much better place.

It's been 7 years and it seems like yesterday that you were among us, laughing and full of the spirit only you had. Miss you today as much as then.

My sister, Martha.....can't believe it has been 7 years since your passing. Miss you and continue to wish you were still here with us, laughing and having fun! Will light a candle here for you in your memory, remembering all the good times we had together through the years. Love, Carol

Another year passes and it seems like just yesterday we celebrated your birthday together....but it has been over 8 years. Still think of you often and miss your smiling face! Love going back each year to this memorial site and looking at all the old pictures....such good times we had and fun to remember them. No one memory stands out....but I do remember sitting with you and Debbie in the yard at my house in Twinbrook and looking at all the birds and wildlife....amazing to see in a city yard....I know you always loved animals. Our cat, Lucky, is still with us at 15 years of age, and you loved coming to our house and watching him for us. We could always count on you!! Love you lots....your big sister, Carol

Cannot believe it has been 6 years since your passing....miss you still very much and wish you were here and visiting us in Florida. You would not like the summers, but this time of year is just beautiful weather. So good to be able to take the time now to remember all those wonderful and fun times we had as children on Military Road, running all over the neighborhood...playing tag, hide and seek, jump rope in the alley, and going to the movies every Saturday matinee....great memories! Love & Hugs, Carol

Six Years and it feels like yesterday...that is both a blessing and a beleaguered curse, as we can easily recall all our terrific times together, but continue to miss you so very much! To a person, we all still morn your passing as if it just happened... you are one powerful soul, Sister!

Still think about your kindness and laughter, xxx

Marc, you are still missed even after five years. I think of you every day and wish you were still with us all. Love You.
David

Still missing you everyday, and wishing you were here. Happy B'Day (Feb 17th) to our favorite Sister, Auntie, Friend...from all of us.

Love scrolling through all the old pictures and remembering the wonderful times we had and many adventures! Your big sister still misses you, Martha, but I know you are in a much better place surrounded by our mom and dad, grandmother and granddad and all the other relatives we grew up with. As we approach the Christmas Holiday Season, I especially miss our growing up years when we all went to grandmother's house to decorate cookies, the 10 ft. tree, and the fabulous Xmas dinner. So glad to leave a tribute to one of the sweetest gals I ever knew. Lots of love, Carol

Seems like only yesterday that you left us. I think about you often and wish you were still here. You must be smiling down on all of us, thinking about what we all have in store for us in our future. Love you

Martha: You are still very much missed by all. You would have loved visiting Ben and me in our home in Florida, especially at this time of the year. However, the essence of you is still with us and the special person you were will always be here in our hearts. You are remembered with great love and affection. Happy Birthday!!!

Think of you often and miss you as much as ever!. Posted another story to this site as well, in memory of you.
From your loving 'little sister'.

You came to have a laugh with me in a dream last night, miss you so terribly!! Love you to pieces!!

It's been a year and I miss you as much now as then. You are in a far better place and I will see you again.

Dawn. Darkness fades
leaving the vigilant stars
hidden in the light.

Remembrances for my oldest, longest-time friend

Martha's story was a grand one.
Whether narrated by her, or others, the anecdotes of her life were always something that could bring a smile to the face of those listening.
But those stories, even the best of them, were only moments in her life.
Pieces of a day
Pages in a book.
She had 25,474 days to make this world a better place, and every single day, she did.
It was the everyday goodness of her that will be missed.
There is no one quite like her.
There is no one with the patience, the honesty, the stubbornness, and most of all the good will that she had. 
She had an enviable life. In every chapter of it.
She was a Tomboy running around DC with her dog Pal at her side.
She got to marry her highschool sweetheart.
When that didn't work out she joined the Foreign Service and got to see the world.
She never seemed to make a very good wife, but she was an outstanding Mother.
Which is where her saintlike patience and understanding were truly proven.
She was even a patriot.
She was damn good at any job she ever had, she was liked by everyone who knew her and died without an enemy in the world.
To quote her "I've lived a good life, and I've lived it with style. I just want my death to be the same."
This was a tough lady.
One who was always more "one of the guys"
Who knew and did what she wanted, and accepted the responsibility for such with an easy pragmatism.
This was a woman who loved life, this world, everyone on it, possibly every furry creature as well.
This was a woman who didn't want us to mourn her death, but celebrate her life.
And while there are no more days and pages to be written in the great volume of her life, her story doesn't end.
It's not confined to the covers.
Her life, and her love, shaped this world.
And those of us touched and effected by her remain so

Martha, you were too smart for all of us. We will miss you and your no-nonsense ways. In your memory, I promise to spend my life not wasting time on nonsense! Help us do good, and we'll work hard to make you proud.

So many fond memories of times together at Grandmother's....we could always count on fun when the cousins got together! We grieve for Martha's passing, but celebrate her life, and take comfort in knowing she is at peace. Love to you all...Patty

Martha was my aunt By Marriage, and it's hard to find words to describe her.
She lived with my family for a time, and I always had the most interesting adventures with her. There was always a smile, or a story to tell, or just the joy in making things up as we went along.
She was there by me for some very difficult times, and I have a gift she gave me to this day that is one of my most treasured possessions.
I will miss her so very much, and there is not a person on this planet that can replace her.
So though she wasn't my "biological" Aunt, She still is and will forever be Family, and my friend.
Much love and Light to you Ross, and remember to smile more then being sad, because that is what I think of most when I think of Martha, that she was always wearing a smile :)

Sweet Martha, I will always remember your great laugh, love of poker and beating Pete Bachman at arm wrestling. God didn't want you to suffer the torments of cancer, so He took you home a faster way. He wanted you with Him. I will miss you.

My heart I broken for this loss. Aunt Martha was the sweetest, most gentle woman. So many wonderful memories of our childhood with her. I thank God you are no longer in pain and at rest.

Martha, my wonderful sister, one of the kindest persons I have ever known…..so glad you were in my life, and I will miss you forever. My heart breaks, but I know you are in a better place….God Bless You and Keep You!!

Martha was a neighbor who I will remember fondly. Such a sudden loss. My heart goes out to her family and especially her son Ross. May she rest in peace.

Your mom was always really gentle hearted and kind to us as teenagers. I never can recall her having a bad day persay when I got to hang out or visit you. Hugs Ross (Hunter).

Martha was the sweetest, kindest-hearted soul I have ever known. Not only a sister, she was my best friend and a mother to me since the loss of our Mom in 1976. A second mom to my 3 children the most loving mother to her son Ross. Our family has lost its best and brightest sibling. Resting in peace now with her dogs Pal & Tammy - I will miss her forever... Love you Mark