Martha Gessner

On September 12, 2024, Martha Ann Beha Gessner, 96, died peacefully at her residence, the Riverglen House, Littleton, NH, with son Bob at her side.

Martha had a long, creative and varied life. She was born and educated in Columbus, OH. She was Valedictorian of her St. Mary’s High School class of 1945 (where she was an honor student…except for getting less than stellar “Conduct” grades for laughing too much).

Martha enrolled at Ohio State University majoring in Consumer Service in Home Furnishings. She had a natural eye for color and design, and interior design became her passion and lifelong interest. At OSU she pledged to Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and became editor of the yearbook The Makio. Each year at OSU Martha was one of 20 women selected for the Honor Society. She graduated Cum Laud in 1949.

After graduation Martha worked in Cleveland, OH, for F. Schumacher & Co; in 1951, she was transferred to the New York City headquarters and began a decade of work as an interior decorator’s consultant. She travelled around the United States, offering lectures and advice to homemakers, answering their questions and working to solve their home decorating challenges.

In 1962, Martha married Norman Gessner, a widower with twin 15 year old sons, Bill and Bob. Martha moved into their home in Yonkers, NY, and exchanged a successful professional career for the role of wife, suburban homemaker and mother of teenage boys. Years later after their Yonkers nest was empty, and Norman had retired, Martha and Norman relocated to St. Johnsbury, VT, in 1979. Bill and his wife Wendy had already settled in VT, and Bob and his wife Mary Ann moved to VT in 1979 as well.

Throughout her life, Martha never ceased being hard working, artistic and creative. She was an accomplished seamstress, sewing clothes for her herself and family members. She created colorful Christmas banners, quilts and blankets for babies, and many hand hooked rugs. She made great contributions over many years to the St. Johnsbury Health and Rehab Activities program and the St. John’s Christmas Bazaar, creating beautiful and affordable pieces. She also sewed attractive hospital gowns for bed bound patients at the St. Johnsbury Health and Rehab Center.

In St. Johnsbury, Martha and Norman were avid square dancers with the Country Corner Squares. Martha was a lector at St. John’s Church in St. Johnsbury. She and Norman spent many winters in KOA Campgrounds in Florida.

Music was always important to Martha, the daughter of a piano teacher; she played the piano or organ until well into her 90s, sometimes entertaining the residents of the Riverglen House, her home for 8 years. She liked many kinds of music, but especially classical music.

She was an avid reader. Activities Director Melissa Pilgrim at the Riverglen House managed to keep Martha supplied with amazing amounts of books. Martha’s vocabulary was, hence, excellent…what a Scrabble player she was! Her sense of color was evident in the many coloring projects Martha did right till the end of her life.

Martha was predeceased by her parents, Helen (Callahan) and Henry Beha; her husband of 42 years, Norman; her sister Sr. Marie Beha, OSC; and her son Bill earlier this year. She is survived by son Bob (wife Mary Ann) of Sheffield; grandchildren Mark (wife Dawn) of Harrison, NY; Dan of Lyndonville; Katie (husband Nick) of Sheffield; Ryan (wife Kate) of Efland, NC. Martha also leaves great grandchildren Jack, Evan, Jocelyn, Margaret, and Abigail, as well as a community of friends at the Riverglen House.

The family would like to thank the staff of Riverglen House for their care throughout Martha’s years there. The family is very grateful to Dr. Joyce Dobbertin, Martha’s primary care physician for decades. Martha will be remembered at Catholic Masses and will be buried in Sheffield in the Spring, 2025.