Martha R. Botos
March 31, 1918 - Oct. 12, 2009
MISHAWAKA - Martha "Marty" Regina Botos, 91, died on October 12th in the Golden Living Center in Mishawaka where she resided for over three years. She previously resided for 60 years in Mishawaka. On March 31, 1918, Martha was born to Cyrilla and Baziel DeGeyter in Mishawaka. She attended St. Bavo Grade School, Mishawaka High School and the South Bend College of Commerce. On November 30, 1940, she married Arthur Charles Botos at Saint Bavo Catholic Church where she was a lifelong member. They had two sons, Gary and Dana. Martha was a wonderful cook and a devoted wife and mother who provided a warm and loving home for her family. She continued to provide support and comfort for them all of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother, Walter DeGeyter, and three sisters, Josephine Somnis, Leona Nemes and Florence Burkhart. Surviving Martha are her sons, Dana of South Bend and Gary of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; her sister, Gabrielle Poikus of Mishawaka; her grandsons, Jack Botos of South Bend, Matt Botos of Westminster, California, and Ben Botos of Delhi, Iowa; and her great-granddaughter, Ever Botos of Delhi, Iowa, who was born on Martha's birthday in 2009. Mrs. Botos was employed at the Mishawaka-Penn Public Library for 25 years, retiring at age 75. She was very proud of her long service at the library and treasured as friends many of the staff and patrons. Previously she worked as a legal secretary for attorneys, Leo VanTilbury, Vernon Freed and Mayor E. Spencer Walton, and at various part-time jobs while her children were young. One of the part-time jobs that she loved was working as the police lady crossing guard at Beiger School where she knew literally hundreds of children by name. Mrs. Botos also served as room mother at Beiger School several times. Martha Botos was an avid reader and trivia buff. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles and puttering in the yard. In her youth she was a very good softball player on one of Mishawaka's amateur teams. One of her greatest pleasures was spending time with all of her friends in the "lunch bunch" at the Princess Bakery in downtown Mishawaka. Several people made her later years comfortable and happy. Her son Dana was her loyal caregiver and frequent visitor until the end. Her sister Gabrielle was her constant confidant, friend and advisor after Martha's husband died in 1990. Her neighbors, Sherry, D.J. and Sean kept the lawn mowed and sidewalks shoveled for years and made life more safe and comfortable in many ways for their adopted "Grandma" Marty. The family expresses sincere appreciation to those staff at Golden Livingcenter who were so very kind to my mother, and a special thanks to her neighbors down the hall, Vivian and Kathy, who befriended Martha and helped her when she needed it most. Services will be in Saint Bavo Catholic Church, 1 p.m. Monday, October 19th, with visitation one hour prior to the Mass. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mishawaka Penn Public Library children's department, or to St. Bavo Catholic Church for Masses for Martha. Bubb Funeral Chapel, 3910 N. Main St., is assisting the family with