Edith Bergman Martel

Dec. 29, 1917 — Nov. 19, 2012

Edith Bergman Martel passed away Nov. 19, 2012 at the home of her loving son Denny Martel, surrounded by her family.

Edith, a descendent of Dan Madden and second-generation islander was born Dec. 29, 1917 to J.O. Bergman and Mary Madden Bergman in their island home, located at 1220 Cattle Point Road on San Juan Island.

As a child, Edith and her sisters took great care of the Saint Francis Church once located on Madden Lane. Edith, the youngest of the four Bergman sisters, as a young girl growing up on the island enjoyed long summer days at her Aunt Jennie’s Beach on Mill Road, Sunday trips to The Corner Store, owned by her father, for treats of her choosing, and helping her pioneer family on the farm, including milking their 16 cows both before and after school.

Soon after graduating a year early from Friday Harbor High School, in 1935, on Jan. 18, 1936, Edith married Edward Joseph Martel, in Saint Francis Catholic Church. Edith and Ed remained on San Juan Island to raise two sons, Daniel Dennis and Leonard Edward Martel.

Edith lived her entire life on San Juan Island, where she worked as a homemaker, while her husband Ed worked as a fisherman, delivered the mail and was best known as a well-driller. She was an active and loyal member of the Saint Francis Catholic Church and Altar Society.

Edith prided herself in her brilliant abilities in the kitchen, being awarded many blue ribbons at the San Juan County Fair. Both family and friends knew that some, if not “The Best”, brownies, lemon bars and cookies could be found at 150 Web Street, where Edith and Ed lived for over 70 years.

Edith enjoyed gardening, walking island beaches for agates, attending mass, long drives around the island, baseball (especially the Mariners) and most of all her family, friends and her life on the island.

Edith is survived by her sons, Denny and Leonard Martel, her daughter-in-law, Pamela, her grandchildren; Justin Martel, Tara Martel Hulse, Tawny Martel Galligan, Kassandria Martel Rouleau, Aydriann Martel Plumb, Tyson Martel and their spouses, as well as her great grandchildren; Eve, Ryder, Damien, Mia, Cole, Lane & Owen. She was preceded in death by her husband Edward Martel, her brother Daniel Bergman, and her sisters, Anna Hodgson, May Boyce and Frances Cahail.

— Family of Edith Bergman Martel