Elsie Marie Martin

Elsie Marie Martin (née Luft), of Newtown and Wilton, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 5, 2025, aged 91.

Elsie was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, Ronald Martin; her parents, Gertrude Luft and Emil Luft; her sister, Madeline Riley (the late John Douglas); and her brothers, Jack Luft and Walter Luft (the late Joy). She is survived by her children, Tamara Martin and Glenn Martin; her brother, Donald Luft (the late Joan); and many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Elsie proudly served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and trained as an Air Traffic Controller before attending business school and working at Seagram’s in Waterloo. A serendipitous trip to California to visit her best friend from the RCAF led her to meet Ron, and together they built a beautiful life, raising a family and sharing a passion for home renovation. Elsie’s natural talent for interior decorating and landscape design, paired with Ron’s woodworking and construction skills, brought beauty to the many homes they lovingly restored across California, South Carolina, Connecticut, Georgia, and Florida.

She had a deep love for gardening and took great pride in creating beautiful, welcoming landscapes at each of their homes. The Christmas season held a special place in her heart—her home sparkled with an impressive collection of ornaments and decorations that brought joy to all who visited. She also enjoyed quiet moments with crossword puzzles and word searches, always with a cup of tea nearby.

In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place and no formal service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center https://lewybodyresourcecenter.org or the Parkinson’s Foundation https://www.parkinson.org.