Sr. Martha Fox, OP

Sr. Martha Fox, OP (85), the former Sr. Jerome, died on Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Summa Health Center, Akron. Sr. Martha was one of 16 children of the late Paul and Marie Fox of Bucyrus, Ohio. She entered the Dominican Sisters of Akron, now the Dominican Sisters of Peace, on February 13, 1946, from Holy Trinity Parish in Bucyrus. She made her Profession of Vows on June 20, 1948. Sr. Martha earned her BSE from St. John College in 1954.

From 1947 through 1966, Sr. Martha taught primary grades at the following schools: SS. Peter & Paul (Doylestown); St. Vincent and St. Paul, (both in Akron); St. Dominic (Youngstown); and St. Mary, Wooster and St. Felicitas (Cleveland). From 1966 through 1970, she was with the Cleveland Diocesan Mission Team in El Salvador. Returning to the States, she ministered as Outreach Counselor for the Near West Side Opportunity Center in Cleveland from 1971 through 1975. After attending St. Vincent Hospital in Toledo for CPE classes, she was pastoral minister for 10 years at Fallsview Psychiatric Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls. After leaving Fallsview, she ministered at the Senior Companion Program in Kent, Ohio. Sr. Martha retired and resided in the Akron Motherhouse Wellness Center for the past several years.

From early on, it was evident that Sr. Martha was a "people person," for no matter where she went, she made friends easily, many of whom had kept in touch with her over the years. She took time to "smell the roses" for she loved hiking in the Metro Parks every fall, biking on the trails, and taking the long way home to enjoy the scenery. Her other interests included working on picture puzzles almost daily with one or two Sisters joining her to see who would be the one to put in the last piece. Several years ago, she held weekly exercise classes in Tai Chi for Sisters residing in the Wellness Center.

Sr. Martha is survived by sister, Sr. Emily Fox, OSF; brothers Donald (Ruth); Richard (Toosie); Thomas (Susan); Carl; and Anthony (Dee); as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. She was preceded in death by brothers Jerome, John, James, Robert, Paul, and Edward and sisters Rita Smith, Elaine, and Rosemary.

The wake and funeral Mass were held at the Akron Motherhouse on Tuesday, April 24, and Wednesday, April 25, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Memorial gifts in Sr. Martha's name may be sent to Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr, Columbus, OH  43219-2098.

Obituary by Sr. Theresa Damicone, OP

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