Martha A. Holmes

Holmes, Martha A., age 94, April 23, 2016 of Southgate, formerly of Detroit. Beloved wife of the late Milton James Holmes. Loving mother of Antoinette (Edward) Kapanowski, Nancy (Clyde) Quattlebaum, Ellen Holmes, Elizabeth Kimbel, Theresa (Alan) Morgan, Gary Holmes and Sheila Holmes; her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Martha will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, Grandma to 14 grandchildren, Busia to 22 great grandchildren and Auntie Martha to many nieces and nephews. She was born at home as a twin to Polish immigrant parents Ignatz Dudek and Agnes (Wojcik) Dudek. She had seven siblings, all now deceased, including Raymond who died as a toddler and her twin sister, Theresa (Knieja). Her first bed was a shoe box fashioned by her father and shared with her twin sister. Martha left a legacy of Love....her love of God, the Blessed Mother, her large family, friends and the Detroit Tigers. Martha was famously known for her baking, especially her homemade bread that was a favorite gift to her grandsons at Christmas. Her cakes and cookies were always the first items sold at every Bake Sale. Martha was active with the Mothers' Guild, Daughters of Isabella, and her Catholic Church. Martha enjoyed her cottage up north, reading, playing cards and a periodic straight shot of whiskey. When visiting Northern Michigan, you would find her on the swing, reading a favorite book and awaiting the deer sitings. Sitting under the stars with a bonfire was the evening vacation routine. Martha was a loving caregiver to her husband and children as well as to her elderly parents and her disabled sister. She had many, many friends and everyone that knew her loved her. Her home was always a welcoming respite to her family, extended family, neighbors and her children's friends. She hosted traditional Polish Christmas Eve dinner every year, filling her home beyond capacity. Martha was beautiful, vibrant and kind. She lived independently until a recent fall. She was surrounded by her seven children in a room filled with love, laughter and story telling when she died peacefully on Saturday, April 23rd.