Martha C. (Sonn) Castine

Martha C. Castine New Salem – Martha C. (Sonn) Castine, 66, of North Main Street, died Monday, August 19, 2013 at Bay State Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by her loving family.      Marty was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, January 13, 1947, the daughter of David A. and Christine M. (Fairfield) Sonn.  She grew up in Milford, NH and Athol, graduating from Athol High School in 1965.  She lived in Montague for 31 years and for the past nine years has resided in New Salem.        Marty was a foster parent for 33 years, helping over 160 children in foster care, receiving two certificates of excellence as a foster care mother.  She had also worked at the Athol Memorial Hospital, the Eastern Star Home in Orange, Thor Manufacturing in Fitchburg, operated a day care for five years, was a home health aide, also worked at the Colrain Elementary School and was a supervisor for Nursing House Call and Tek Medical in Greenfield for several years.        Marty was a former Girl Scout and Brownie Leader, active in the Rainbow Girls, member of the First Congregational Church of Montague where she was a Deaconess and Sunday School teacher.  Marty enjoyed spending time with her family and many friends and especially time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.      She leaves her husband of 46 years, Richard C. Castine; a daughter Rheann Larsen and her husband Christopher of West Chesterfield, MA; a son Ryan Castine and his wife Sandi of Colrain; her mother Christine Sonn of Greenfield; five grandchildren, Tricia, Amanda, Benjamin, Rebecca and Stephanie; five great grandchildren, Nevaeh, Chase, Hazel, Travis, Jr. and Gable.   She also leaves three brothers, Thomas J. Sonn and his wife Marilyn of Leesburg, FL, David E. Sonn and his friend Nancy of Hamilton, NY and James W. Fairfield-Sonn and his wife Lynn of Old Lyme, CT and a sister-in-law, Diane Lyman and her husband William of Summerville, SC.  She was predeceased by her father David A. Sonn in 2000.          Funeral services will be held Friday, August 23, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Montague, 4 North Street, Montague Center with the Rev. Barbara Kline-Seamon, former pastor officiating. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery in Montague.  Calling hours will be held Thursday, August 22nd from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Higgins-O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main Street, Athol.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in Marty’s name be made to: Rise Above Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 174, Northbridge, MA  01534 or www.weriseabove.org.  For further information or to share a memory with the family go to:  www.higginsoconnorfuneralhome.com. $(document).ready(function(){ });