Obituary of Martha Hartzell

Martha Jane Sepe Hartzell, 85 of Avon Park, FL and Poughkeepsie, passed away peacefully on Feb. 7, 2010. She was born in Millbrook on Aug. 8, 1924 and was a dental assistant for Dr. Emil Raeder in Millbrook before she married Andre Hartzell on July 24, 1954. They resided in Poughkeepsie and Essex Junction, VT before retiring to Florida in late 2003. While living in Poughkeepsie, she owned and operated M&A Ceramics where she was a beloved instructor to her students, children and grandchildren for more than 30 years. She inspired her family and friends, not only as a breast cancer survivor, but also an artist, teacher and a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Her laugh will remain in our hearts and ring through our own voices for years to come. Martha is survived by her devoted husband, Andre and four loving daughters, Patricia Courtois and her husband, Roger of Sarasota, FL; Cynthia Magnani and her husband, Geoffrey of Oxford, NY; Ann Seils and her husband, Robert of Salt Point, NY and Nancy Boyce and her husband, Dickie of Sebring, FL. She leaves behind nine beautiful grandchildren who cherished her playful nature and love of life and laughter, Nicole Courtois McCoy and her husband, Chad of Tallahassee, FL; Bradford Magnani and his wife, Heather of McKinney, TX; Heather Boyce of Sebring, FL; Drew Seils of Willington, CT; Seth Magnani of Gainesville, FL; Jonathan Courtois of Sarasota, FL; Ashley Boyce of Sebring, FL; Matthew Magnani of Oxford, NY; and Michael Seils of Salt Point, NY. She was especially proud of her grandchildren as they were one of her greatest joys in life and she will be dearly missed by them all. She was also the last surviving member of the Benedetto and Angelina Sepe family of Millbrook, which includes siblings, Filomena, Thomas, William, Angela, Louis, Virginia, Angelina, Beatrice, Julia, Barbara and Katherine. To our loving, wife, mother and grandmother, "We will always love you and keep you in our hearts." Friends and family are invited to calling hours on the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010 from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Traver Road, Pleasant Valley on Sat. Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. Burial will be in the spring. In lieu of flowers, family and friends may remember Martha with a gift to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Pleasant Valley, NY where was a lay reader for many years.