Martha Jeanne Yarnell

Martha Jeanne Yarnell, 72, passed away April 18, 2021, at Ascension Sacred Heart hospital in Pensacola, FL. She was born November 15, 1948 in Pittsburgh, PA to Robert Yarnell, Sr. and Odella Hoffer. She was baptized in St. John Gualbert Cathedral Catholic church in Johnstown, Pennsylvania where she grew up. She later lived in Windber, Pennsylvania, and eventually settled in Pensacola, Florida. Strong in her Catholic faith, Martha was an active member of several parishes and devoted herself as a youth CCD teacher and as president of the Junior Legion of Mary. She also enjoyed many close friends as a professed Third Order Carmelite. Martha was an artist of many talents. She specialized in painted ceramics, and she owned her own ceramics shop in Johnstown, PA. She also painted beautiful icons of Christ and the Virgin Mary. As her health declined, she adapted and demonstrated her artistic ability in sewing, embroidery, crocheting, and loom knitting. As her illness robbed her of these enjoyments, she found delight in painting youthful and whimsical images on smooth rocks with friends and family. Martha was a fighter and survivor who faced many struggles in life through her positive outlook and her deep faith in her Lord and Savior. A favorite saying of hers was, “She believed she could, so she did.” Most recently, she enjoyed seven more years of life after receiving a lung transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Martha was thankful to her unknown donor, to whom she gave the endearing name Rosie to honor and remember her. Most of all, Martha enjoyed spending time with her six daughters, sixteen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Her love for her family, and her desire to be with them, emboldened her strength to keep going, despite all the challenges that life presented her. A loving and caring mother, Martha was always available to help family members and others in need, and her generosity was limitless. Martha is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert Jr., and her sister Maryann. Martha is survived by her brother Louis and her sisters Rebecca and Catherine; her daughters Francine Harper, Deborah Karstens, Kimberly Mayall, Joyce Richards, Bethann Hesselgrave, and Jessica Baucum; her grandchildren Katherine, Michael, Justine, Kendal, Heather, Christina, Ryan, Tyler, Caden, Aaron, Joshua, Hannah, Eliza, Christian, Austin, and Hailey; and her great-grandchildren Harbor, Jacob, William, Ayden, Ashlynn, Declan, Kaydynce, and Piper. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, fellow transplant patients, and brother & sister Carmelites. Martha left us this short prayer in a notebook, “Holy Spirit that dwells in me, quicken within me. Rise up within me, and bring me closer to Jesus. Amen.” Mom, your indelible strength and unconditional love were an incredible gift and blessing to us that will never be forgotten. You taught us that no matter where we are, there is someone who cares and believes in us. We know that there really are angels on this earth because, Martha, you were one of them. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 11:30 AM, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Reverend Father Eugene Casserly will be Celebrant. Faith Chapel Funeral Home South, 100 Beverly Parkway, is entrusted with arrangements. You may express condolences online at www.fcfhs.com.

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Martha Jeanne Yarnell

November 15, 1948 - April 18, 2021