Martha Mirly Budding

Martha "Marti" Ann (Mirly) Budding, age 77 of Arlington, MA, died peacefully Sunday, December 17, 2023 after a prolonged battle with Parkinson's Disease. Beloved wife of the late David W. Budding. Devoted sister of Rebecca Barnwell (Mirly) and husband Marcus of Charlotte, NC. Loving mother of Jeffrey Berndt and his wife Kristin of Cohasset, MA and Nathan Berndt and his wife Malka of Lexington, MA and step-mother of Tony Budding and his wife Jamie of San Jose, CA and Lauren Budding and her husband Dr. Pieter Cohen of Brookline, MA. She is also survived by her grandchildren - Tyler, Erik, Kendell, Edie, Kaila, Mason, Colin, Austin, Sofia, and Niels, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Born in Champagne, Illinois, to the late Reverend Herbert and Dolores (Wilkins) Mirly. Grew up as a preacher's kid alongside her loving sister, Rebecca, moving from town to town as her parents were assigned to various Lutheran parishes. She attended Valparaiso University, graduating in 1968, and married Ernst Berndt (a fellow preacher's kid) in 1967, with whom they had two sons. She was a dedicated mother, lovingly raising her children. While living in Vancouver, BC, she developed a passion for anthropology with an emphasis on Northwest Coast native communities and museum management. In 1980, the family moved to Massachusetts.
After her marriage ended with Ernst, she re-entered the workforce and became a deeply respected human resources professional at Harvard University's College of Arts and Sciences Development Office, with Lutheran Social Services of New England, and at Buckingham Brown and Nicols. In 1993, she married David Budding, and they had a magnificent second chapter together. They sang together in choruses, traveled around the world, tended to their gardens, loved their rescued dogs, and actively participated in their church communities while hosting countless gatherings for their children and grandchildren whom she adored. Shortly after she married David, she was diagnosed with early- onset Parkinson's. She – together with the support of David - battled the degenerative disease with courage, grit, and grace for close to 30 years. Even with the tremors and all the effects of Parkinson's, she continued to use her extraordinary creative skills to make clothes and create banners and quilts that are still proudly displayed in their beloved Wellesley Village Church.
A service will be held Friday, December 22 at 10AM at Wellesley Village Church in Wellesley, MA. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Parkinson's Foundation www.parkinson.org.