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Martha "Marti" Jordan

Martha Jordan Obituary

Martha "Marti" C. Jordan, 66

RUTLAND - Martha "Marti" C. Jordan, 66, passed away on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at Rose Monahan Hospice Home after an illness. She was born in Holden, the daughter of Howard L. and Ethel (Rodgers) Jordan and had lived on the family farm in Rutland for most of her life.

She leaves a sister, Janet Segur and her husband, Donald; two brothers, Warren Jordan and Wayne Jordan and his companion, Catherine Sefton; two nephews, Randy Jordan and his wife, Mary and Brian Jordan and his wife, Lynn; two grandnieces, Meghan and Sarah Jordan; two grandnephews, Mason and Sumner Jordan, all of Rutland; her best friend, Barbara Carlson of Holden; many cousins; many other dear and close friends too numerous to name, and her dog Lilly.

Marti graduated from Wachusett Regional High School, earned a Bachelor's Degree from Plymouth State College and earned her Master's Degree at Cambridge College. She was a physical education teacher for 34 years starting at Holden Jr. High School and worked throughout the Wachusett district before retiring from Dawson Elementary School in 2004. During her career, Marti was the girl's basketball coach at the Holden Jr. High and the middle school for 23 years, was on the coaching staff of the Wachusett Regional High School cross country and track teams for many years and was a chaperone on many biking and hiking trips at school.

Marti was an outdoor adventurer, summiting the 100 highest peaks in New England and hiking the backcountry of Montana every summer since 1985. During her retirement, she traveled extensively, seeing much of the world and summiting Mt. Rainier and Mt. Kilimanjaro. She enjoyed photography and was a lover of animals. Marti will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by many.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Marti's life on Saturday, March 8, at 11 a.m., in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. A committal service will be held in the spring at Grove Cemetery in Holden. Please omit flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to Wachusett Greenways, P.O. Box 121, Holden, MA 01520. To share a memory of Marti or offer an online condolence to her family, visit

www.milesfuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Worcester Telegram & Gazette from Feb. 25 to Feb. 28, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Martha Jordan

25 Entries

Stephen Trimby

March 8, 2014

Marti and did a lot of hiking together, including all of the 100 highest in NE and the Long Trail in VT. She never had a bad thing to say about anyone.

Jean Bergstrom

March 5, 2014

I remember Miss Jordan as a vibrant, supportive and really fun basketball coach. I think she was my first coach, for any team sport. She set a high standard. I never knew that she was an enthusiatic hiker, and am so impressed with her achievements and convinced that in her short life she burned brightly, touching many. I am sending gentle thoughts to her family and friends during this time of loss.

March 4, 2014

Marti was a beautiful person with a spirit that lit up everything around her. I miss her everyday. Thank you for allowing me the blessing of her last months. Denise

Laurel Earls

March 4, 2014

I am so saddened to hear of Ms Jordan's passing. Ms. Jordan was my middle school basketball coach. She was the BEST coach I ever had over my 14 year career. Ms. Jordan was a true coach helping players discover new skills, be patient in their learning, and she always met her players where they were at. In a sport where competitiveness can threaten the fun, Ms. Jordan always seemed to protect us from that threat allowing us to bond as a team, ,and feel important regardless of the win or the loss. We rode the wave of wins but knew losses were an opportunity for growth and part of the game. Basketball was one of my first loves and I feel so thankful to Ms. Jordan for supporting my relationship with basketball. Coaches hold so much power...to create, to destroy, to support...Ms.Jordan was always responsible to her players. She "got" it...basketball was about life and about fun. If we are measured on how we support and impact others in this life, then Ms.Jordan gets the highest marks and the most prestigious awards. I hope she knew how powerful the impact of her spirit was to those of us blessed to know her. To her family and friends, my heart is with you.
With love,
Laurel

Sara Geene Tindall

March 2, 2014

She was such a great coach. She instilled the qualities of discipline,hard work but yet didn't take herself so seriously she couldn't have a good time and laugh. She was kind and an encourager. I remember her even coming to high school games and giving an encouraging word. She was a fine woman and role model! ( I had her for middle school basketball and track and PE she really inspired me I played basketball in college and coached middle school girls for several years) May God comfort you in your loss. My prayers are with her family and friends.

dan

March 2, 2014

I had miss Jordan as a gym teacher in 5th grade at dawson. she was such a great person and teacher. haven't seen her since then but I remember the good times I had during her class.

Harvey & Judy Thompson

March 2, 2014

To Marti's extended family & many friends,

Our condolences for your loss. Take comfort in the positive influence that Marti had on so many lives and especially the young people.

Cindy Houtchens

March 1, 2014

Marti lived the Dawson motto: "I am loving and caring (IALAC). My condolences to all of her family. Rest in peace, Marti!

Catherine Casey

March 1, 2014

I had the honor of getting to know Marti during the last few months of her life and could tell she was a special lady! She was never without a close friend or family member at the end of her life and from the stories I heard her tell she left her mark on people's hearts including mine. Meeting Marti made my life richer - isn't that one of our main goals in life. Thank you Marti. You will be greatly missed!

Henry Bibber

February 28, 2014

My deepest sympathies to Marti's family and close friends. I was a backpacking companion of Marti's in Montana for almost 20 summers. She was a strong hiker, a great photographer, a lover of the wilderness, and a person who welcomed the unexpected challenges of the trail. Marti was fun to be around, and she was always willing to share her deep knowledge of backpacking. Her wry sense of humor and encouraging words sustained me and others in our group during trying times. Some persons have a surprisingly big impact on our lives and, for me, Marti was one of those.

Charles Gruszka

February 28, 2014

I go back 42 years with Marti. She was a physical education teacher and girls' basketball coach at Holden Junior High when I began my career, spending two years at that setting as a special education teacher for the Wachusett School District. We reunited 22 years later when I became principal of Dawson Elementary School, where Marti was serving as a member of the faculty. It was a very happy reunion for me and one of the highlights of taking over the reins at Dawson!

Marti was such an outstanding, caring PE teacher who wanted the very best for every student. As a result, she set her expectations high and I am convinced that many, many students' lives were changed permanently for the better as a result of having had her as their teacher! It was always such a joy to watch her organize the parent community and carry out the "Challenge Course" component of the PE program. What a confidence building experience for the kids!! For most, it constituted one of their fondest memories of their elementary school years! I was always so happy for the students to participate in that activity under such supportive instruction as Marti provided! She truly used her knowledge, skills, and talents, to make the world a better place for the students and families she served and the colleagues with whom she carried out her special vocation!

Her family and friends should feel very proud of her legacy, and I extend heartfelt sympathy to them in their loss. I will always consider it to have been a privilege and blessing to have been Marti's colleague in education!

Brian

February 28, 2014

Single greatest phys ed teacher the Wachusett Region will see. // Left a generation of students at Dawson Elementary School much better off. // She will be missed.

Carolyn Carpenter

February 28, 2014

Marti was so dear to my kids and to me. While not a blood relative, she was family to us. She was a beloved 3rd "grandmother" to my 7 year old twins, Alex and Rachel. Their lives were tremendously enriched by their time with her.

I will never let them forget the wonderful memories they had with "their Marti" - their first backyard campout, hiking Mt. Wachusett, trips to VT, backyard woods and rail trail walks, fun at the farm, Christmas memories and general fun and silliness and hugs - the list is just so long. They loved her so much and she was so supportive of them and interested in them and they all had so much fun together. Marti will be very missed in all our lives.

February 28, 2014

Ms Jordan taught her students many life lessons in her gym class.... as a parent ... thank you.. rest in peace...

Jen (Cross) DeWitt

February 28, 2014

I am so sad to hear of Ms. Jordan's passing. One of the best coaches I ever had. She was one of the ones who got it. My condolences to her friends and family. I have thought of her often recently now that I coach my own daughter's basketball team...

Katie

February 28, 2014

Ms. Jordan was my gym teacher for many many years and she will never be forgotten. Prayers for your family.

Steve Miner

February 27, 2014

Thank you for chaperoning our trip to AZ and allowing us to have these lifelong memories!

Jennifer Rivera

February 27, 2014

So sorry for your families loss. I had Miss Jordan when I was in Dawson. She was such a great teacher, she challenged every one of us. Prayers are with your family

Kathleen Sioui

February 27, 2014

I'm so sorry to learn of Miss Jordan's passing. I learned so much from her gym classes at Holden Junior High.

Gordon Warren

February 27, 2014

My heart felt condolences to the entire Jordan Family. Marti fought a courageous battle which doesn't surprise any of us who knew Marti. I will always remember our days growing up and attending 4-H Fairs as well as the many opportunities I had talking with Marti at track meets during her adult years at Wachusett. She was quite a woman and she will be missed but never forgotten. Rest in Peace Marti.

Chris Lane

February 26, 2014

For the thousands of kids there are two names none of us will ever forget from Dawson elementary. Mr. Charles Gruszka, and Ms Jordan. A generation of Holden kids are better people because of them

Betty Jenewin

February 26, 2014

I am so sorry to hear of Marti's passing. I had the pleasure of knowing Marti in the '80's when we were both members of the Central Mass Striders running club. While we didn't stay close as the years rolled on, I always appreciated that we would run into each other at the track and field meets where she was coaching. Rest in peace, friend.

February 26, 2014

We send our deepest condolences to the family. Marti was an adventurer. I have fond memories of our travelling days together. She will always be remembered.
Love,
Ron and Kim

Cindy & Orrie Mason

February 26, 2014

So very sorry to hear of Marti's passing. She was strong up to the very end. Our prayers have been with you all during this difficult time and will continue. Cherish your memories of all her accomplishments. Marti was a wonderful person.

Susan Terkanian

February 25, 2014

I am so very sorry to learn of Marti's passing. Words fail. May all who love her be consoled by the love of family and friends at this time.

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