- Date Of Birth: September 6, 1924
- Date Of Death: August 26, 2020
- State: Illinois
Kathleen G. (Joyce) Martin, 95, of Peru, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday evening, August 26, 2020. Kathleen was born on September 6, 1924 in Gardner, IL to Thomas E. and Helen (Finn) Joyce. She graduated from Gardner-South Wilmington Township H.S. at the age of 16 as valedictorian of her 1941 Class.
After graduation, she worked for the Farm Bureau in Kankakee, IL and later attended St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing in Chicago as part of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps, she graduated as President of the 1948 Class. Kathleen married Lawrence Martin of St. George, IL on October 16th of the same year at St. Lawrence O’Toole Church, Essex, IL. She worked at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley from 1972- 1994, retiring at age 70. Kathleen was a member of St. Joseph’s Church and the Altar & Rosary Society in Peru, IL.
She served as vice-president (1970-1971) and president (1971-1972) of the St. Joseph’s Mother’s Club. She is survived by eight children: Mary of Peru, Kevin of Peru, Edward (Vicki Eardley) of Bloomington, IL, Margaret (Mark Hodge) of Fairview, TN, Tim of Peru, Joyce of Chicago, Greg (Linda Ballerini) of Ottumwa, IA and Joan (Antuany Smith) of Seattle, WA; and 9 grandchildren, Derrick, Brian, Cynthia, Renea, Shawn, Lawrence, Matthew and Kathleen Martin and Garrett and Jacqueline Hodge and 2 great-grandsons, Russell and Dallas.
She is also survived by a brother and sister, Frank (Bo) Joyce of Atlanta, GA., and Eileen (Mike Seymour) of Eau Claire, WI., and sister-in-law Liz (Tom) Joyce of Saint Robert, MO. and brother-in-law John Yonke (Mary) of Grapevine, TX. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence in 1973, her son Dennis in 2012, a grandson, Daniel in 1997 and four brothers and one sister.
