Martha Jane Owers, family matriarch
Martha Jane Owers, 79, of Rehoboth Beach passed away at her residence Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, with family at her side. She was born May 5, 1939, in Flushing, N.Y., daughter of the late John and Mary Elizabeth (Lynch) Sears.
Martie spent a long life keeping a beautiful home and raising six beautiful children. She was the matriarch of the family, and loved nothing more than leading by example and spending time with her grandchildren. A woman of strong faith, Martie was an active parishioner of St. Edmond Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach, and previously at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Gaithersburg, Md. In her spare time, Martie enjoyed tending to her garden and road trips across the country. She could often be found by the ocean or tending to her many beloved pets. Martie was warm, outgoing, and generous - she never met a stranger.
In addition to her parents, Martie is preceded in death by her husband, R. Christopher Owers in 2016. She is survived by her children: Kathleen Schulz (Ric) of Virginia Beach, Va., Jo-Anne Gruchot (John) of St. Joseph, Mo., Elizabeth Byrne (James) of Owensboro, Ky., Albert Schueller (Laura) of Walla Walla, Wash., Jennifer Gotuaco (Fursey) of Fort Worth, Texas, and Keith Schueller of Rehoboth Beach; her grandchildren: Michelle Boykin (Josh), Stefan Byrne, Emily Schueller, Luke Gruchot, Rachel Schueller, Katie Jo Gruchot, Corinne Byrne, Moriah Byrne, and Megan and Kristopher Schueller and their mother, Meredith Martin Schueller; and her close friends, Michael Dolan and Mary Ellen Norelli, of Rehoboth Beach.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, Jan. 21, at 11 a.m., at St. Edmond Catholic Church, 409 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m.
Burial will be held Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 10 a.m., at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 32112 Vines Creek Road, Dagsboro. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Martie’s name to the Delaware SPCA, 455 Stanton Christiana Road, Newark, DE 19713.
Please visit Martie’s Life Memorial Webpage and sign her online guest book at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
