Martha Manning Stein of The Holland Christian Home, North Haledon, NJ (formerly of Franklin Lakes, NJ) passed away peacefully on April 20,2024 with family members by her side. Martha was a resident of Franklin Lakes, NJ for over 56 years. Martha was born February 15, 1934 in Manchester, NH to Gardner and Mary Manning. Her sister Barbara was born seventeen months later. Martha’s early childhood took her to many locations all across the United States where her father served as a doctor with the US army in WW2. Martha quickly made friends but her best friend was her sister Barbara. The two sisters would both attend Wheaton College, even being roommates for one year. While at Wheaton Martha attended a neighborhood Bible Club Prayer Meeting, and met John Stein, and the rest is history. Martha graduated college in 1956 with an Art degree and credentials in Teaching. Soon after graduation John and Martha wed. In1964, they built a house in Franklin Lakes to raise their family. Teaching others would become her lifelong calling. Each of Martha’s three children, John, Barbara and Peter grew up learning to love the outdoors, whether it was skating on their backyard pond or learning to swim with Martha as their swim instructor. Oma and Opa, John’s parents, cherished their daughter in law, and treated her as one of the family from the start. John and Martha’s family resided next door to her in-laws. Martha’s father in law, although retired, continued to own and operate The Ramapo Chocolate Company from his home. Martha would send the children over to help wrap chocolate Easter bunnies and Christmas Santas. Of course Martha knew eating the leftover broken chocolate pieces was fair game for Oma and Opa’s helpers. Martha taught her three children to help where needed. All three children mowed lawns, weeded gardens and picked buckets of blueberries. Martha was an avid gardener so when the children were hungry, she would tell them to go out into the garden and pick the green beans or peas. Martha used her teaching skills to reach out to her church and her community. The very first family member she taught art formally to was her niece Betsy, who said, “It was my Aunt Martha who taught me to see color, and my world has not been the same since her lessons.” Martha taught Still Life Oil Painting and Pastels at night school to adults both in Ramsey and Midland Park. She also substitute taught in the local public high schools. Her teaching did not stop in the classroom, but extended to her church, particularly to the next generation. Martha taught children’s Sunday school for 11 years at Grace Community Church in Franklin Lakes and also designed crafts for their annual Vacation Bible School for many years to come. Martha fit the craft to the Bible lesson and then carried out the mission of getting 50-100 children to successfully create the craft and get it home in one piece. Martha made each craft time fun and memorable. She was also a Pioneer Girls leader (a Christ centered version of Girl Scouts) for 35 years at her church. She would go on hikes, lead Bible lessons and discussions, work crafts and help girls earn badges. Always making teaching fun. Martha never tired of her objective. Martha’s home was always open and all were welcome. Grandchildren, neighbors and church friends were invited to progressive dinners, annual church picnics or just coffee and conversation. Martha was a wonderful listener and storyteller. She allowed you to feel as though no one else mattered but you when in conversation. She loved to tell stories of friends, travels and adventures she had experienced. Martha visited several of the National Parks out west with her beloved family. One trip brought John and her to England and Scotland. They traveled back to the USA on the QE2 in 1978. They took a tour through Europe stopping in several countries and traveled to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Her favorite vacation place was Lake Willoughby, VT where the family vacationed year after year. Many of her paintings reflect the surrounding area. In the boat on the lake, John would fish and Martha would often sketch and paint the world around her. Martha had a deep and abiding love for Jesus her Savior, evidenced in her life by her family and friends. Martha Stein was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, John H. Stein and her son, John G. Stein. Martha was a loving mother to her daughter Barbara (Richard) Wells and their sons David and Tim (Kelli) Wells, her son Peter (Martha) Stein and their daughter Katy (Ben) their son Mark (Colleen) and their daughter Krissy (Bryan) and to her daughter in law Kathi (Steve) Mitchell and sons John (Lori) Stein and Jim (Aimee) Stein. Martha has 8 great grandchildren. Martha is also survived by her sister Barbara Child, and many wonderful nieces and nephews and their families.