Adele L. Martin

Adele Martin, born on November 24, 1937, in Washington, DC, passed away surrounded by the love of her family. She was the third of four beloved daughters of Albert P. Recknor and Mary L. Vaccaro.

Adele lived a life centered on faith, family, and unconditional love. A devout Catholic, her faith was the foundation of her life. She found comfort and strength in her relationship with God, and she lived each day with compassion, generosity, and grace. Her faith guided the way she cared for others and served as an enduring example to her family. Her greatest joy was her family, and she considered them among life's greatest blessings.

Adele had a big heart and opened their home to three foster children in 1967. She was a Girl Scout Leader in 1966, volunteered for Project Echo Homeless Shelter in 1993 and Birthright in 2000, and worked as a Geriatric Nursing Assistant in 1995. Adele loved gardening, both in the yard and in her home.

Adele is preceded in death by sisters Carolyn McNey and Florence Hogan, and is survived by her sister Mary Jean Roberts. Adele married James Dareld Mitcham (dec'd) on May 26,1956; they had four children, Theresa DeStefano (Anthony dec'd), James (Bud) Mitcham (Sherry), Elizabeth Mitcham (Steven West), and Paul Mitcham (Mitzi). They divorced in 1981. Adele married Frank Martin in 1981, and they divorced a few years later.

Adele has sixteen grandchildren who she adored; Nicholas (Megan), Mark (Lisa), Gregory (Holly) and Marigrace (Donnie Cranford) DeStefano; Natalie (Mark), Bobby, Christopher (Alina), Kyle (Lena) and Dustin (Bekka) Mitcham; Brandon (Melanie), Courtney (Tim Brown), Evan, and Sean West; and Amanda Curry, and Dillon and Taylor Mitcham. She was also fortunate to know and cherish her 16 great-grandchildren; delighted in watching her family grow through the generations.

Adele will be remembered for her warm heart, gentle spirit, unwavering faith, and selfless devotion to her family. She had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel welcome and loved, leaving a lasting impression on all who knew her.

She leaves behind a family who will forever cherish her memory and carry forward the values of faith, kindness, and love that she instilled in them. While her presence will be deeply missed, her legacy lives on in the hearts of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and friends.