Martha Christina (Henning) Foley, 90, died Sunday, April 17, 2011. She was the former wife of the late Robert S. Kesler and the widow of the late John F. Foley.
Born on January 18, 1921, Martha was the youngest of four children of the late William and Wally (Loose) Henning. Her brothers, William and Carl Henning, predeceased her, and she is survived by her sister, Ruth Henning of Salem. Martha was always proud of the fact that her oldest daughter Wendy was born on her birthday, January 18, and her only great-grandchild Hunter was also born on her birthday, January 18, 2010.
Martha was a stay-at-home mom for many years, living first at one end of Lawrence Road and then moving to the other end of Lawrence Road in Salem. She also worked at Gentex Corporation and retired from there. She was a long-time member of the First Congregational Church and active in the Philathea women’s group.
She is survived by daughters Wendy (Kesler) Lisbon and her husband Joseph of Englewood, FL (formerly of Salem), Nancy (Kesler) Callahan of Falmouth, MA, and Lisa Foley and her partner Sheila Paine of Portland, ME, and step-children Teresa (Foley) Lapella and John Foley of Methuen, and Karyn (Foley) Cormier of Florida. Grandchildren are Erica (Callahan) Malcolm and her husband Wayne of Osterville, MA, Alexander Leriche of Osprey, FL, Adrienne (Leriche) Eaton and her husband Sean of Bradenton, FL, and great-grandchild Hunter Malcolm. Martha is also survived by several step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and was most particularly grateful to Betsy Donahue-Davis and her husband Bill of Sandown, NH, and Jimmy Fitton of Newcastle, NH for their loving presence in her life.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Stephen Kirk, and the staff at Windham Terrace Assisted Living Community, Caritas Holy Family Hospital and Pleasant Valley Nursing Center for their devoted care.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church, 15 Lawrence Road, Salem, NH 03079. A memorial service is planned for later in the summer.