Martha “Marty” Gill

Martha “Marty” Gill, born Martha Burdella Roch, was born on October 8, 1934, in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, and passed away peacefully on July 13, 2026, at the age of 91.  While her passing leaves an immeasurable void, she leaves behind a life that was rich with adventure, compassion, resilience, laughter, and love.

Marty was a woman who believed life was meant to be lived fully, courageously, and without regrets. If there was one lesson she hoped to leave behind, it was this: “Live your life. Do what makes you happy. Don’t have any regrets. If you’re going to have regrets, don’t do it.” She often kept another favorite reminder close by: “Hoping and regretting are two good ways to avoid living.” She didn’t just believe those words—she lived them.

Following the heartbreaking loss of her son, Eric Geiger, in 1984, she dedicated herself to helping others who were grieving and struggling with suicide loss. She became a passionate advocate for suicide prevention long before conversations about mental health became commonplace. Alongside Reinhild Qurashi and Anne Landis, she helped establish the Suicide Prevention Group in Quakertown. She also served on Pennsylvania’s Committee for the Prevention of Teenage Suicide, where she contacted every county in the state to identify after-suicide support groups and compiled one of the first statewide resource guides. As one of the founding members of the Survivors of Suicide organization in New York, she expanded that work nationwide, reaching out to counties across the United States to create a directory of survivor support groups so that grieving families would know they were never alone. Through her own loss, she transformed her grief into a lifelong mission of bringing hope, compassion, and support to countless others facing unimaginable loss.

Professionally, Marty spent ten years as an Administrative Assistant at Ametek before becoming an Avon District Manager, overseeing Berks County and half of Reading County for two years.

She was also a trailblazer. In 1954, she proudly wore a bikini when doing so raised more than a few eyebrows. In 1971, she became the first woman at her workplace to wear slacks instead of a dress, shocking just about everyone. She lived by her own rules, often years ahead of her time, and encouraged others to do the same.

Adventure was one of her greatest loves. She traveled to more than 56 countries with spouses, lovers, children, friends, and even on several solo adventures. Some of her favorite places included Arizona, Monaco, and Paris. One story that never failed to make everyone laugh was when Jen, Mira, and Lisa discovered in Turkey that she preferred using the men’s restroom over the ladies’.

She was married to Leonard Geiger for 13 years, and together they had four children. Later, she married the love of her life, Jim Gill, and together they welcomed one child. They shared 32 years together until Jim’s passing in 2006.

Home was where her heart remained. She loved gardening, beading, reading, puzzles, painting, photography, and, in her own words, was “okay at crochet.” She faithfully served as Treasurer of the All Seasons Garden Club for 19 years and also served as President of the Cross Country Garden Club.

She was also quietly fearless. In the late 1960s, as a divorced mother, she purchased a home on her own, becoming the first woman in Quakertown known to do so. At a time when many believed it couldn’t or shouldn’t be done, she simply did it.

She loved life’s simple pleasures: a really good cup of coffee, a warm chocolate croissant, meaningful conversations, and making people feel heard. She had the rare gift of being the best listener, and countless people walked away from a conversation with her feeling understood, encouraged, and loved. Just two days before she passed, she enjoyed her very first cup of Starbucks coffee. Having always assumed she wouldn’t like it, she took one sip, smiled, and declared it was the best cup of coffee she had ever tasted. With perfect timing and her signature sense of humor, she simply said, “l saved the best for last.”

She deeply valued the friendships that enriched her life over the years. She especially treasured her time with Bruce and Linda Savitz and always appreciated receiving the monthly Free Press they faithfully sent her. She also looked forward to attending Crafters and gathering for cards with the girls, enjoying the laughter, companionship, and conversations that made those times so meaningful to her.

Her greatest joy, however, was always her family. She treasured every moment spent with her children and grandchildren. In her later years, she especially cherished countless games of 500 Rummy and Rummikub with Pete. Pete was also the one who provided much of her day-to-day support, helping with the countless everyday tasks that allowed her to remain independent. Whether it was opening the orange juice carton, helping with her oxygen, or tending to the many small requests that could easily add up throughout the day, he was always there.

She cherished late-night conversations with Jen, offering wisdom that only a mother could. Steve could always count on her thoughtful advice when life became complicated. Lisa— affectionately known as “Bunner”—and her husband, Patrick, were always there whenever she needed them, a devotion she never took for granted.

She delighted in each grandchild for exactly who they were: Ian, the first grandchild who started it all; Mira, her only granddaughter; Graham, who loved calling her “Mother, May l”, Joseph, who always made sure to end the day with, “Goodnight, I love you”; Colin, whose genuine presence made every visit special; Logan, who could carry on a conversation about absolutely anything; and Noel, who completed the family she adored beyond measure.

She also had one great-granddaughter, Leila, whose sweet little voice saying, “I love you, Gammy,” never failed to melt her heart.

One of the greatest joys of Marty’s later years came at the age of 85, when she found the two brothers and sister she had longed for throughout much of her life. She often said she felt truly grateful—not only to have found them, but to have been so warmly welcomed into their homes and their hearts. After spending most of her life without siblings, discovering Wayne, Maxine, and Meryl gave her a part of life she had long been denied. The bond they quickly formed became one of her life’s greatest treasures, and she was deeply grateful for the love, laughter, and memories they shared together.

Marty was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, Jim Gill, and her beloved son, Eric Geiger.

She is survived by her children, Jennifer Geiger, Steve Geiger, Peter Geiger, and Lisa Joyce and her husband, Patrick; her grandchildren, Ian Dunham, Mira Dunham, Graham Geiger, Joseph Robinson, Colin Joyce, Logan Joyce, and Noel Geiger; her great-granddaughter, Leila; her siblings, Wayne Crouse, Meryl Crouse, and Maxine Mcgough; and countless friends whose lives were brighter because she was part of them.

A celebration of Marty’s life will be planned for mid-August. In keeping with Marty’s vibrant spirit, the family kindly requests that those attending her Celebration of Life wear floral prints in her honor. It would have brought her great joy to see the room filled with flowers, reflecting her lifelong love of gardening, blooming plants, and the beauty of nature.