Martina F. Withers Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Martina (Tina) Francis Withers of Woodbridge passed away peacefully on May 16, 2018 at Branford Connecticut Hospice with family by her side. Tina was born October 8, 1929 in her grandmother’s second floor bedroom in Providence RI. She grew up across the street from Roger Williams Park where she and her brother Charlie would often go sledding and skating. After high school she received her nursing degree from the St. Elizabeth’s school of nursing in Boston. She then found herself in the high stress environment of the operating room but she told her family she enjoyed every second of it. After several years she moved to New York and became a licensed nurse working at the Irving Trust Bank. It was here that she met her future husband William Withers After their marriage on October 8, 1960 they moved from Washington D.C., Sudbury MA and finally settled in Woodbridge while growing a family along the way. Having raised her 5 boys to high school, Tina returned to nursing at the VA hospital where she remained until her retirement. Even after retirement she stayed in touch with many coworkers and patients. Tina had a few nicknames. She was lovingly known as “Grandma Bill” to her grandsons Connor and Ty but was most famous as “Tiny Tina”. While small in height (5’ 0”) she was given this name by friends at the Woodbridge Club for her ability to stalk her children and keep them in line. Her father would talk proudly about her ability as a child to outbox the neighborhood bullies to protect herself and other kids at school. She supported her sons’ many activities. She loved to cheer them on in multiple sports but especially for their swim meets at the Woodbridge Club. Tina also supported their scouting activities putting up with smoky jeans after campouts as she guided them all to the Eagle Scout rank. Of course, her training as a nurse came in very handy as she patched up her kids after their activities. Tina (Mom) loved traveling outside the U.S. to countries such as England, Scotland and Spain. At home she loved the ocean and was quite content to sit on the beach for hours playing in the sand. Fall season would often find her in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to see the change of seasons. Her favorite trips were to see grandchildren and spend holidays/time with family. She was an avid reader and would fly through multiple books on history and politics. She instilled this passion for reading with not only her children but her grandchildren as she gifted books to them each year. Her love for lobster was almost infinite. If you were ever uncertain if she should come for a visit the offer of lobster would seal the deal every time. Her love of history played out in many ways as she always enjoyed a good estate sale where she intently researched her finds and built collections. Beyond this, genealogy became her passion as she sought to trace the family's roots. Tina loved to cook but after raising 5 boys she found it almost impossible to cook in small quantities. Her backyard became a sanctuary for almost every bird, deer, squirrel and turkey in the neighborhood. Not one of them ever went hungry on her watch. Mom was a person of great strength, compassion and devotion to her family. She is deeply loved and missed by her beloved children and grandchildren, Timothy Withers, his wife Kathleen of MA and their children Conner and Tynan, Christopher Withers,his wife Michelle of NH,and their children Samantha, Kristen and Theodore, Andrew Withers of MA and his children Daniel, Kathryn and Jaclyn, Lawrence Withers and Terrance Withers both of CT. She was predeceased by her parents Charles and Martina Powers Murphy,a brother Charles Murphy and a daughter in law Deborah Withers. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday morning at 10:00 in Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 81 Center Rd, Woodbridge. Burial will be private. There are no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to CT Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405. Arrangements are with Sisk Brothers Funeral Home, 3105 Whitney Ave., Hamden. www.siskbrothers.com

Martina F. Withers

October 8, 1929 - May 16, 2018