James Thomas Martin

Deacon James Thomas Martin, age 75 of Madison, passed away Friday, March 28, 2014 at his home. Born August 1, 1938 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he was the second oldest of nine children to Frank Martin and Phyllis Hobson. Moving to Ontario in 1943, Jim was raised in Toronto and Streetsville. After graduating from Oakville Trafalgar High School in 1956, Jim earned an associate degree in electrical/electronic engineering and control systems at Bathurst College and Ryerson Polytechnic. He married Muriel N. Schneider on August 13, 1960, and they had three children Cheryl Karran (Bentley), Brian (Gloria) and Debi Snyder (Bob) before moving to Mentor, Ohio in September of 1970. They had two more children, Janine Poleman (Jimm) and Renee. Jim and Muriel became active in Worldwide Marriage Encounter in 1978 and presented weekends for ten years. They also began doing sacramental preparation classes and facilitating Pre-Cana days at St. Mary's in Mentor. Jim was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Cleveland by Bishop Anthony Pilla on May 19, 1990. As they began their diaconal ministry, Jim and Muriel also started helping present Catholic Engaged Encounter weekends in the Diocese of Cleveland as well as a few surrounding dioceses. They served Engaged Encounter on local, district, and national boards. Jim was diagnosed with intermediate, stage 4, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in November 2002. After successful chemotherapy and radiation, they moved from Mentor to Madison Ohio in November of 2003. He continued his diaconal ministry at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Thompson. In the fall of 2005, Jim and Muriel started spending their winters in Florida. Jim received his faculties to practice his diaconal ministry at Holy Spirit Parish in Lake Wales in the Diocese of Orlando. In addition to his work in the parish, he began to help out in the prison ministry. In 2013, Jim and Muriel began visiting homebound parishioners in St. Patrick parish. Jim is preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Phyllis Maduro (Richard), Marlyn Flemington (Edwin) and Barbara Normandin (Len), as well as his brother Paul (Maria and Marian). He leaves behind his brothers Tom (Pat) and John (Sue), his sisters Ann Christie and Arlene Johnston (Blair), and numerous nieces and nephews. His wife of 53 years, Muriel, he leaves in the care of their five children and sixteen grandchildren. Vespers service will take place at 3:00pm on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 16550 Rock Creek Road in Thompson with Bishop Roger Gries celebrating the service. Public visitation will then be held until 8pm that evening in the church with additional visiting hours from 9:00 to 11:00 am on Thursday. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, April 3, 2014 at the church. The funeral mass will be celebrated by Bishop Richard Lennon. There will be a reception to follow. Final resting place will be at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon at a later date. The family suggests contributions be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44110 The Behm Family Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements with online obituary at www.behmfuneral.com