Martha Linnea Cook

On November 22 Martha Cook passed away sitting on a favorite bench outside the kitchen watching her well-fed birds and squirrels. She was 104 years old and living fully right to the end. She had a rich and varied life for which she remained grateful.

She is survived by her two children Peter DuBois in Jefferson Maine and Susanna Williams in Charlottesville Virginia, three grandchildren: Shanti in Westbrook, CT, Tyler in State College PA, and Genevieve in Nashville, Tennessee as well as 6 great-grandchildren aged 3 to 12 years old.

Martha was born in 1918 in a small factory town in Sweden. She was an excellent student and devoted member of the church. She then ventured out to Stockholm graduating from nursing school. She started her career in WW II using her skills to rehabilitate Finnish soldiers. She married her first husband Harry who was an engineer in 1947. In 1948 they immigrated to the US and had 2 children. Martha worked in various health care capacities including Silver Hill in New Canaan, CT. In 1965 she married Emory Cook and began a wonderful partnership that included working at his side at Cook Laboratory – an innovative recording company.

When she retired she was able to express her deep love of nature through gardening and eventually became president of the Rowayton

Garden club. She also volunteered at the Norwalk Hospital and was a steadfast member of the United Church of Rowayton.

Martha’s caring went beyond her profession and she developed many nurturing friendships that sustained her over the years. She was generous with several charitable organizations, ever mindful that many were not as fortunate in life as she herself was. She lived in the same neighborhood for over 40 years and became a vital part of the community. She was an example of how to age with grace and style as she stayed independently (with a little help from her friends) in her home until the very last day of her life.

Martha will remain in our hearts. Her life spirit continues on in her children, family and friends.

There will be a memorial service at United Church of Rowayton at a later date.