Elizabeth “Bette” Ann Martha

12/29/1927 - 04/11/2022

Elizabeth “Bette” Ann Martha, 94, passed away on April 11, 2022 in Kennebunk, Maine. She passed peacefully with all five of her sons (Kip, Jay, Chris, John & Ken) at her side.

She was born in New Haven, CT to Edgar Cann and Helen Donnelly Cann and grew up in Hamden, CT.

Bette earned her Teaching degree from New Haven State Teachers College (now Southern Connecticut State University) followed by a Masters and a 6-year degree in Education.

She was a beloved teacher for over 40 years with her last 20 years in the Cheshire, CT school system.

She married husband Paul Martha in 1952 and they spent 53 years together before his passing in 2005.

Bette and Paul loved spending summers at their Cottage on Lake Wassookeag in Dexter, Maine. It was a wonderful gathering spot for their ever growing family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She made sure to keep the annual summer family get-togethers going after Paul passed, as that’s where many of the extended families’ fondest memories came from. Every summer, there would be another lesson in singing and performing the Hukilau.

Besides her morning coffee, she loved cooking for the family, especially homemade spaghetti sauce that would simmer for hours for spaghetti and meatballs or pork chops, rice and tomatoes and other dishes that could feed large groups.

Bette was also an expert bargain shopper. She could probably have taught a Masterclass on it.

However, possibly her greatest ability was to somehow remain calm while raising five highly energetic boys, with uncountable trips to hospitals and emergency rooms, as they often experimented in activities that they weren’t quite fully skilled at yet.

Bette and Paul also did their best to keep all of the boys in sports year round to try and keep them out of trouble, which worked reasonably well, but also required non-stop trips to Hockey rinks and Baseball, Football and Basketball practices and games. It’s tough enough scheduling with one or two kids, but with five, that took some serious organization and teamwork and they managed to pull it off masterfully.

She had a wonderful group of friends and family that she enjoyed spending time with throughout her life, including her siblings (all now deceased) sister Kay Mulligan and brothers Rod Cann and Ed Cann as well as friends Millie Drazen, Jan Werner and Jan Austin and special neighbors Cathy and Dennis Frost in Dexter, ME and Nancy and Scott Sewitch In Cheshire, CT.

She is survived by her five sons and their families: Kip & Cheryl (Fox) Martha, Jay & Lynn Martha, Chris & Joyce Martha, John & Colette Martha and Ken Martha. Her grandchildren are Juli and husband Andy Chalifour and their children Brynn and Ryland, Miles (deceased 2021), Melanie and husband Zakaria El Baghdadi, Jennifer and husband Peter McCallum and their children Ellie and Sophie, Grace and husband Greg Giannini and their children Derek and Scarlet, Sam Martha, Katia and Akira Martha, Ben, Tom and Paul Martha, and Ella Martha.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to the Dexter Historical Society, P.O. Box 481, Dexter, ME 04930.