Alloys Christina Mary Morgan STEELE

MARTIN, Alloys (Steele) Gloucester, Massachusetts Alloys Christina Mary Morgan (Billy) Steele Martin, 90, died at her home, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007 with her family by her side. She was born Jan. 1, 1917 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Ira J. and Lillian K. (Fowler) Steele. She grew up on her family's cattle ranch in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, driving teams of work horses and riding a pony to a one-room school. She loved horses and her deep bond with them and many other animals was a source of comfort and delight throughout her life. In 1940, she received a Bachelor of Arts in teaching from Victoria College, University of Toronto. During World War II, she worked for the Canadian Navy in vision research. She continued her education, earning an M.A. from U. of T. in 1949 and a Ph.D. in physiology from Harvard University in 1952. She conducted pioneering research on the endocrinology of pregnancy at the Free Hospital for Women (now Brigham and Women's Hospital) in Boston. While her children were growing up, she devoted herself to their well-being, and encouraged them in their dreams. She became a skilled silversmith, studying for many years at the DeCordova Museum School. Her designs were original and beautifully executed, gifts that delighted their recipients. Her reading spanned a universe of interests, and her creative talents were also expressed in knitting, in gardening and in dancing. She worked hard and believed strongly in sharing whatever she had with those less fortunate. She was interested in and supported many efforts to achieve justice for both people and animals and to preserve the wild places of the Earth. On June 20, 1952 she married Christopher Martin who survives. She leaves four children, daughters Kathleen Martin and partner Karol Bruce Papiernik of Saxtons River, VT, and Janet Martin and husband Joerg Mayer of Southbridge, MA, sons Christopher and fiance Marcia Webster of Shelburne Falls, MA, and Malcolm and wife Celeste of Weehawken, NJ, also two beloved grandchildren, Lillian and Jasper of Weehawken, NJ, two nephews, Stephen Sackston of Caledon East, Ontario, and James Sackston and wife Lois of Fenelon Falls, Ontario, two grandnieces and their children, and many friends made over her lifetime. She was predeceased by four brothers, Ira, Kenneth, Jack and Bill and one sister, Lois Katherine Sackston. Burial was in the family plot in Saxtons River Cemetery. A memorial gathering will be held in the spring. Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home, Bellows Falls, VT is handling the arrangements. Alloys loved flowers and while she would have appreciated them, her family asks that the resources be devoted in her memory to a charity of one's choice. Published in the Ottawa Citizen on 1/12/2008