Obituary of Martha Disterheft

Martha Disterheft was born to Gustav and Hulda Schorak in Poland on Oct. 19, 1923, and passed away at Galahad Care Centre on Feb 25, 2016 at the age of 92 years. In 1929, she immigrated to Canada with her family which had grown to include an infant sister. The family settled in the Forestburg area to start a farm. The family grew to include a son and two more daughters. The Lutheran Church was a vital part of Martha’s life and it was there that she met her life partner Paul Disterheft. They were married on Jan 20, 1943 at St. Peter’s Lutheran in Edmonton. They established a farm near Forestburg and raised a family there. Three children were born to this union: Irma (1944), Linda (1949) and Gary (1955). After husband Paul died in August 1964, Martha stayed on the farm until 1992 when it was turned over to Gary and she moved into Forestburg. Community service and volunteering were important to Martha. She served many years on Hope Lutheran Church Council & the ELW executive and for numerous years as Secretary-Treasurer and volunteer for maintenance at the Forestburg Public Cemetery. Throughout her life she maintained a passion for cooking, gardening and plant care as well as hand-crafts such as knitting, crocheting and sewing. Martha loved music, family, friends and animals and always opened her heart and home to family, visitors and animal companions. Her determined independence was cut short in 2012 when health issues forced her placement in long-term care. Martha was pre-deceased by her husband Paul, infant brother Rudy, father Gustav, mother Hulda along with her sisters Hildegard, Esther and Lydia; mother-in-law Theophile Disterheft, father-in-law Andreas Disterheft, and many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law as well as nephews and other family members and friends. She is survived by her brother Paul, daughters Irma (Larry) and Linda (Tom) and son Gary, as well as four grandsons: Kurt Tschaja, Marc Tschaja, Cory Sarafinchan (Samantha) and Dana Sarafinchan (Stephanie), and six great-grandchildren, as well as sister-in-law Emma Jahns and numerous nieces, nephews and other family & friends. A service of remembrance will be held Tuesday, March 15, 1:00 pm at Hope Lutheran Church in Forestburg. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association or the charity of your choice.