Marty Ewing

Marty "Martha" Ewing (nee Eisen), born May 26, 1947, passed peacefully and gently on March 24, 2025, surrounded by family. Beloved Mom, Grandma (known as Grandma French Fry), Sister, Aunt, Godmother, Cousin, Friend, and Girl Scout. Marty called herself many things over the years: tomboy, troublemaker, junkaholic, and at the end of her life, "Smarty Marty."
Marty was born in Chicago in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. She attended St. Margaret's of Scotland and Longwood Academy; she loved growing up there with her parents and siblings, and she enjoyed playing baseball with the neighborhood boys. After high school, she joined the School Sisters of Notre Dame as a novitiate. When she left the convent, she trained as a secretary in Chicago, where she married and started a family. Darien was her home, where she raised her four kids, volunteered at her kids' school - Lace School, and started a daycare business for Lace teachers.
Her life as a Mom and Grandma gave her immense fulfillment, and she cherished every moment and celebration together. She encouraged her children and family to play, be silly, and expand their worlds. Her love was unconditional, and she supported her loved ones in everything. She enjoyed vacationing in Michigan, and she took many family trips there over the years-the St. Joseph lighthouse being her favorite. She cultivated strong friendships and relationships in every part of her life wherever she went. Her memory will live on in all who cherished her playful enthusiasm for life and laughter.
Marty found a purposeful career of service as a Girl Scout Leader, and she worked for the Girl Scouts in the Membership department for 25 years. She always believed girls should have equal access to everything, especially sports and camping. She taught girls how to make a good fire, put up a tent, do first aid, and use a compass. Her camp name was PEPSI. She always came to meetings with snacks, and as she got older, her diet caused much amusement amongst girls and leaders alike. She supported troop leaders, helping them to make Girl Scouting as fun as possible. Her proudest Girl Scout achievements included advising girls earning their Gold Awards, organizing the annual Colorado trip to Snow Mountain Ranch, and working with her friends to start the Muslim Girl Scouts. She earned almost every award possible, including the Hall of Fame award in 2016 from the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Her legacy of service will live on in the countless girls, volunteers, and colleagues she guided.
She was spontaneous and playful at heart and loved bringing that joy and fun to the lives of her children, grandchildren, and every child she encountered. Her sense of humor and love of a prank made so many people laugh. Sports were a constant love, and she was a lifelong White Sox fan, attending games first with her Grandma Strohmaier and later with her kids. Whether coaching girl's softball, starting up her own women's softball team, spending time walking the golf course with her kids, or carrying the family's bowling team, she lived an active life.
Despite the challenge of an Alzheimer's diagnosis in the last eight years of her life, she maintained her spunky character, earning the love of her caregivers in her various homes. These kind people helped nurture this playfulness, even as her condition progressed. We are grateful for the love and dignity they provided in her most difficult moments.
Marty is survived by her four children - Maureen (Todd McCarty), Rebecca Barta, Michael (Lynn), Matthew (Ashley), and honorary son Steven Bailey; her six grandchildren - Moira & Devlin Barta, Nghi & Brandon Ewing, and Connall & Isla Ewing; her three siblings – Larry (Marlene-her other sister) Eisen, Marilyn Vinkler, and Maureen (Bob) Fialkowski; her many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and her countless friends. She was preceded in death by her loving parents – Lawrence & Theresa Eisen – and her older sister Mary Theresa (Patrick) Fox. Visitation Sunday, March 30, 2025, 1:00Pm – 5:00PM at Modell Funeral Home, 7710 South Cass Avenue, Darien and Funeral Monday 9:30AM from the Funeral Home to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church Mass 10:00AM. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers (Marty was allergic!), please make donations to Misericordia (www.misericorida.com, please use family number 6049A) and Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org)