BETTY MARTIN
MARGARETVILLE Betty Martin, a wife, mother, teacher, and community activist passed away Friday, April 16, 2021, at mountainside Residential Care Center in Margaretville. A resident there since 2018, she had spent post retirement winters in Amelia Island, Fla. She was 92 years old when she passed after a brief illness. One of seven children of Anthony W. and Catherine Bittermann, Betty was born in Saugerties November 6, 1928. She married James G. Martin of Arena on May 15, 1955 at St. Mary of the Snow Roman Catholic Church in Saugerties. He predeceased her Nov. 15, 1994. Mrs. Martin, remembered by former students as a loving but exacting and strict teacher, earned both a BS and MS degree in Education at SUNY Oneonta. She also did post graduate work at Syracuse University, SUNY New Paltz, Buffalo, Plattsburgh, State University College at Bemidji, Minnesota, and the College of St. Rose earning 60 hours over her MS degree. Mrs. Martin was an elementary school teacher at Margaretville Central School from 1950-1984 when she retired. During her life Betty was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Margaretville and Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Yulee, Fla. She also was a life member of the NYS United Teachers and the National Education Association. She was a member and past president of the Margaretville Teachers Association. Betty was a member of Kappa Delta Phi; National Honor Society of Education. She was an active member of the Margaretville Hospital Auxiliary serving for one year as chair of its popular summer ea market. Golf, reading, gardening, and travel were among her special interests as were politics and current events. She served as an election inspector for many years. Betty is survived by her daughter, Colleen Patricia Martin and Bill Malanga of Margaretville and her sister Dorothy Neely of Vero Beach, Fla. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and a great-grandnephew and nieces. In addition to her husband, Betty was predeceased by her brother, Robert Bittermann, and sisters, Catherine Hertel, Therese Nau, Margaret Haines, and sister Rosemarie Bittermann, Sister of Charity. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 24, at 10 a.m. at Scared Heart Church in Margaretville with Father M. Fischer ofciating. Family will receive friends to offer their condolences beginning at 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Burial will follow at the Sanford Cemetery immediately following the Mass. in lieu of owers, Mass cards can be secured at Sacred Heart Church or donations may be made in Betty’s memory to the Hospital Auxiliary. Arrangements are entrusted to Hynes Funeral Home, Margaretville, N.Y.