Marblehead — Martha Welch a proud lifelong resident of Marblehead and matriarch of the Welch family, passed away Saturday, September 29, 2012, at Blueberry Hill in Beverly after a 5-plus year battle with dementia. Martha was the daughter of the late John and Clara (Bassett) Pierce.
She was a budding artist and musician at an early age, having played in the band at Marblehead High School, from which she graduated. She was also a member of the art club. Martha married her high school sweetheart, Donald, in 1951 and spent the next 52 years in marital bliss until his passing in 2003. In the early sixties, she was the manager of sales at Jordan Marsh. Her true calling was teaching kids and young adults, having taught at Endicott College, North Shore Community College and Marion Court. Along the way, she received her master's degree and bachelor's degree from Salem State College, where she was a member of the Golden Key Society, and her doctorate from Boston University. She went on to become the Assistant Dean and Director of Business Administration Programs at Northeastern University. While at Endicott College, she was the driving force behind unionizing the teachers.
As she always said though, her crowning achievement (being the queen) was raising her five children. As the kids started moving out of the house, her favorite saying became, “east is east and west is west, but home shall always be the best.” Martha was a past Worthy Advisor for the Rainbow Girls of the Swampscott chapter and going through the line to achieve the position of Worthy Matron of the Victory Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Marblehead. When not involved with her extra activities, she loved being out in the yard tending to her gardens or being with family and friends around the pool. She was always putting in long hours researching her genealogy of the Bassett-Pierce family in Marblehead with great interest.
She is predeceased by her brother, Jack Pierce, and her sister, Natalie Nash. Martha is survived by Karen Welch of Kittery, Maine, Donald Welch and wife Jan of Salem, Jack Welch and his wife Sally of N. Yarmouth, Maine, Elizabeth Ohlhorst and her husband Gary of Pace, Fla. and Gregory Welch of Marblehead. The other shining stars in her eyes were her grandchildren, A.J., Carly, Ben, Michael, Amanda, Gregory Jr., Brian, and her great-grandchildren Ashlyn and Jackson.
The Welch family would like to extend their deepest thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Maier and staff, the doctors and staff at Northeast Neurology, and most of all Dr. Epstein, Pam, Julie and the staff at Blueberry Hill.
ARRANGEMENTS: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Martha’s memory to, Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472 or Make-A-Wish of MA, One Bulfinch Place, 2nd Floor, Hemingway Drive, Boston MA 02114. Visiting hours will be held in the Eustis & Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm Street, Marblehead, on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, from 3-7 PM. At the family’s request, graveside services at Waterside Cemetery will be private. Please visit the online guest book at www.eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com
