In Loving Memory of

Martha Antonia Manning

(Maiden: Slavik)
of Sherwood Park

 

To view the Funeral Mass, please click here.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our much loved and dearest Martha Manning. On February 10, 2024, Martha Antonia Manning (nee Slavik) of Sherwood Park, passed away peacefully in hospital at the age of 91 years.

She was born in 1932 to James and Gertrude Slavik in Viking, Alberta, and she was number three in their family of 11 children.

Martha grew up in Killam, Alberta, and then she attended nursing school and worked as a nurse at Misericordia Hospital in Edmonton. After nursing, she worked as a flight attendant for Trans-Canada Airlines. Later in life she worked as a teacher's aide at Father Kenneth Kearns School and then a home care worker for Family & Community Services.

She married Kenneth G. Manning (also from Killam) on February 13, 1956, and they had a large flock of rare birds including eight children: Pat (Lee), Janet (Georg), Lora (Tim), Marilyn (Dennis), Dan (Nadine), John (Susan), Chris (Lisa), and Ken Jr. (Eliott); 17 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren. Martha was predeceased by her daughter, Janet, in 2022; her parents; and many friends and relatives.

Martha devoted her long life to the care and nurturing of her large family, she said her "greatest treasures in life had two feet", and to her Catholic faith and its community.

Martha earned the title of "Best Mother in the World", as awarded by one of her children and their elementary school friend, but it was richly deserved. She was dearly loved by her family, husband, children and spouses, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and she will be greatly missed. In addition to her own flock of children, Martha loved feeding and watching the many song birds and tending to the flowers in her yard. She enjoyed knitting over many years and she kept her large family warm with her handy work made with love. She also enjoyed curling with the Ardrossan curling league, she was a diehard Blue Jays fan and the Edmonton Oilers #1 fan for life.

Martha was a very active and dedicated parishioner with Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish for almost 50 years, which included attending weekday Mass, commentating at Sunday Mass, and volunteering to make funeral lunches. Martha was a member of the Catholic Women's League for 65 years.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9th, 2024, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Sherwood Park, with a Reception and Celebration of Life to follow in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that online donations be made to the Marian Centre of Edmonton in memory of Martha Manning. She was a monthly volunteer in their inner-city soup kitchen for more than 20 years in service of her community.

Arrangements entrusted to Foster & McGarvey Edmonton South Funeral Home.