Martha Augusta Eastman (nee Suske) on Tuesday, November 9, 2021. Age 91. Devoted wife of 44 years to the late Edward Carroll Eastman. Loving mother of Marty Eastman-Brown and her husband Gary; Edward C. Eastman, Jr., his wife Patricia, their children Edward Eastman, III (Caitlin), Joseph Eastman (Jessica), and Susan Eastman (Abe), and their grandchildren Jackson, Julian, Annie, and Edward, IV; David Eastman, his wife Beth, and their children Matthew and Abigail Eastman; Deborah Eastman, her children Katie Nash Bundy (Brian) and the late Andrew Nash, and her grandchildren Ainsleigh and Eden Bundy; Elizabeth Losasso, her husband Vincent, Jr., their children Kristina Losasso and Vincent Losasso, 3rd (Lindsay), and their grandchildren Nicholas, Vincent, 4th, and Thomas; and Rebecca L. Eastman and her children Margaret, Gregory, the late Jonathan, and the late William Rothschild. Sister of the late Stanford Suske, Dorothy Trautvetter (Robert), and Mildred Dahl (James). Daughter of the late Gustave Adolph & Martha (nee Sheppard) Suske.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Martha married Edward Carroll Eastman, the love of her life, in 1946 and quickly began raising their family. They moved to Clayton around 1960 and later had the last of their six children. Martha worked from home babysitting while taking care of her elderly mother. With strong encouragement from her husband and while raising six children, Martha got her driver’s license and went back to school to earn her GED. She took a job working the night shift inspecting records at Columbia Records while attending college during the day, first at Gloucester County College and later Glassboro State College where she earned a BA degree. Around 1980, Martha was hired as an Art Teacher in Collingswood where she worked until her retirement in 1997.
Martha was a gifted artist whose artwork included sketches, watercolors, and oil paintings. In addition to her artistic talents, Martha was a gifted seamstress and crafter. She made cards, handbags, kid’s costumes for various performances and horse shows, and all kinds of clothing including gowns. Over the years, Martha made an untold number of quilts and wall hangings. Every new baby in her family and extended family received one of her amazing quilts. Her last quilt was made just a few short months ago. Martha was ingenious with her crafts and found many ways to decorate things. She completely covered in paisley fabric the inside of her red 1970’s VW Bug. Gardening was another big part of her life. Her knowledge of plants was extensive and she actively tended to her numerous gardens until just a few years ago.
As a family, they enjoyed camping at the state parks in their VW camper and later in a truck back camper to events and amusement parks. In her later years, Martha enjoyed traveling and was truly a world traveler including places such as Canada, Iceland, Peru (Lima and Machu Picchu), France, England, Greece, Switzerland, Japan, China, Indonesia (Bali, Java, and Sumatra), Africa, and Egypt. During one of her trips to Thailand, Martha commented, “Can you believe a little girl from Philadelphia got to travel the world and see these sights?”
Martha’s life was full of love, children, travel, and art. She was generous and giving to all who were in her life. As a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, her legacy lives on as our families pass down handmade quilts, dolls, toys, and the many memories we shared together.
Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Friday, November 12, 2021, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the BARCLAY FUNERAL HOME, 208 Maple Street, Clayton, NJ 08312. Funeral service and interment are private at the convenience of the family. For those who may consider sending flowers, the family kindly asks that fall colors be used and that no roses be sent as Martha did not care for them because they were a reminder of her father’s funeral. Sign the guestbook at BarclayFuneralHome.net.
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