Joan Louise (Rossi) Martin, a longtime resident of Jacksonville Beach, passed away 24 June, 2017 after an extended battle with cancer. Joan was born in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, to Frank and Flora Rossi on 26 March 1930. Her father was a first generation immigrant from Italy, and her mother was a direct descendant of Elisabeth Tilley who arrived to the New World on the Mayflower. At a young age she moved from Hazardville, Connecticut, to West Gardiner, Maine. There she spent her formative years growing up with her sister Mary and two brothers Frank and Paul, all of whom preceded her in death.
After high school, she attended the University of Maine, graduating in June of 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. While attending the University of Maine, she met and fell in love with Ephraim Martin III, her husband of 38 years who preceded her in death 15 November 1989. They were married at the Highland Avenue Methodist Church of Gardiner, Maine, on 11 August 1951 and proceeded to build a family. Together they had four (4) boys, Ephraim IV (Eph), Paul Kindley, Theodore (Ted) David, and Andrew (Andy) Newton. As the wife of a career military man, Joan moved her family often and was, on more than one occasion, left to tend to the family during Ephraim’s many deployments and service overseas to fight in Korea and Vietnam. All four boys attended and graduated from West Point, married, and provided Joan with a combined total of 12 grandchildren. Eph, Paul, and Andy are retired, while Ted remains on active duty. Never one to complain, she always maintained a focus on raising her sons. They were the priority, and she always placed them first.
Her family invites friends to attend a visitation on Friday, 21 July 2017 from 5:30 PM to 7:00PM at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 1701 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Funeral Service will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, 22 July 2017, at Saint Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 465 11th Ave North, Jacksonville Beach, Florida reception to follow at the church; a private family interment ceremony will be held at H Warren Smith Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Saint Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 465 11th Ave North, Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Beaches Chapel, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250. (904) 249-2374. www.hardage-giddensbeacheschapel.com or www.dignitymemorial.com