Martine M. March

November 2, 1939 – November 24, 2023

Stylish, sassy, cultured, funny. Martine March was a presence in any room.

As a young child growing up in Paris in the 40s, Martine March had vivid memories of World War II, the Nazi takeover, and days of hunger.

With the end of the War, the beauty of Paris returned, and Martine became an adult in the City of Lights, living with her mother, visiting her father, and learning how to speak English and ice skate.

With agility, balance, coordination and a slimness that she would have her entire life, Martine became a professional ice skater in her 20s. She joined a team that traveled the world, doing coordinated skating routines in luxury hotels and other popular venues.

After ice skating, Martine became a hospitality hostess for TWA, traveling the world at a time when air travel was considered a luxury and status symbol.

While working in Chicago, a friend convinced Martine to go on a double date with a man she'd never met. This blind date turned into a marriage and a move to the suburbs, where she had three sons in two years, including identical twins.

The next few years were a time of diapers and feedings that later evolved into volunteering at the boys' school, cheering on the boys in competitive swimming and wrestling, family ski trips in the winter, and family vacations in the summer.

After her sons became adults, Martine moved back to the city of Chicago, buying her lakeview condo. Like the city woman she was, Martine knew Chicago's public transportation system like the back of her hand. She took public transportation to her work at the Bank of Paris in Chicago as a bilingual employee, and to visit museums and galleries on her days off.

Cultured, well-traveled and stylish, Martine spent time in Europe, North America, and even on safari in Africa. Like a true Parisienne, Martine was always well-dressed and fashionable, even when raising three rowdy boys.

Even in her later years, Martine remained physically fit and flexible, casually doing stretches that her own sons couldn't match. Up until the end of her life, Martine continued a love of French food like crepes, croissants and French bread, fun music like the Beach Boys, and wine and sweet vermouth.

Martine passed peacefully in her sleep, knowing she was loved by her sons Scott, Alan and Brook, her daughters-in-law Billie and Georgia, her grandchildren Alexa, Natasha, and Maryann, her niece Astrid, Brook's partner Sandra, and her very best friend, Bianca the little white dog.

Visitation for Martine March will take place on Friday, December 1st, between 2:00 - 3:00 pm at theTheis-Gorski Funeral Home, 3517 North Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60641.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Paws Chicago in memory of Martine.