Obituary of Martha Menezes

Martha Maria Menezes, who was fondly known as Marth by Eugene her loving husband of 64 years, Mummy by her children Shirley, Joyce and Gerard, Nana by her 7 grandchildren, and Grandma to Woodside and the wider community, passed away on June 12th, 2023 at the age of 86. She was the matriarch, the glue that kept a vast family network scattered around the world together. She never missed a birthday, would willingly get up in the middle of the night to get on zoom to view events related to family and friends and kept in touch regularly with everybody. Born on Jan 24, 1937, she grew up in Chennai, India into a loving family along with her 7 siblings. She got married in 1956 to Eugene and moved to Rangoon, Burma. Due to political turbulence she, together with her husband and children, returned back to India in 1963. She initially worked at Ford Foundation before starting her 25+ years career in UNICEF serving in New Delhi, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Somalia, Liberia and finally to New York HQs from where she retired. She was passionate about Music. She was proud to have come from a family of musicians. She was often asked to play the piano at parties and events, which she happily did. Martha was a fun loving, extroverted person who loved to socialize and meet people. Her boundless energy extended to zumba, which she never missed. Her later days were filled with a mixture of her favorite tv shows, art classes, Tai Chi, zumba, dance parties, and of course, social media. She was an ardent reader and was also a word smith like no other. She was always up for a game of Scrabble and reveled in crossword puzzles. Her letters were thoughtful and eloquently drafted. Her organization skills were unparalleled. She cared deeply for the people around her. She was kind and passionate. She made an impact on many lives. She will be forever missed. Visitation will be Friday, June 16 from 5-8PM at Edward D. Lynch Funeral Home, Inc, 43-07 Queens Boulevard, Sunnyside, NY. Funeral Mass will be held 9:45 am on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at St. Sebastians RCC, 58th Street And Roosevelt Avenue, Woodside, NY. Cremation Private.