It is no surprise, really, that Yvonne Martin died while preparing to serve others.
Martin, who was killed in the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on Jan. 12, was known for her kindness, her giving spirit, her generosity.
In fact, it would be easier to find the places she did not volunteer than to list all of the places she did.
Martin’s husband, Ron, said that his wife was a woman of compassion and strength.
“She was a great wife, just a great lady. She had a passion for people,” said Ron. “She died doing what she wanted to be doing.”
This was Martin’s fourth trip to Haiti, a country she fell in love with after her first short-term mission trip a few short years ago.
Martin had recently retired from her job as a nurse at Elmira Medical Clinic, and was looking for a new challenge.
Once she went to Haiti for the first time, Martin knew that this is where she was meant to be.
Marilyn McIlroy, who led the team of medical missionaries that was there in Haiti with Martin, said that she was always impressed with the passion Martin had for the Haitian people.
“Her goal was to go to Haiti at least once a year,” said McIlroy.
For this last trip, Martin single-handedly raised $8,000 through various fundraisers for the team, doing everything from making jars of chocolate chip cookie mix to holding barn dances.
“She was an amazing lady,” said McIlroy.
Ellen Krahn, who worked with Martin in her role with World Partners, the mission wing of the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada, said that Martin’s commitment to Haiti was strong.
“She was just a really great lady,” said Krahn. “She was very, very kind and compassionate, and had a love for the Haitian people.”
Krahn said that Martin had opportunities to go on other medical mission trips to other countries, but she would decline.
“She wanted to go to Haiti; that’s where her heart was.”
Martin also volunteered at John Mahood School in Elmira, helping young children with literacy issues.
Principal Tracey Tait said that Martin would work one-on-one with students in kindergarten and grade 1, helping them with the basic skills they needed to learn to read.
“Due to volunteers like Yvonne, we were able to help 20 students last year,” said Tait.
A celebration of the Strong Start literacy program is planned for today (Friday). Martin would have been one of the volunteers attending the event, but now the students, volunteers and staff she left behind will be holding the event in her honor.
Martin was also a volunteer in the tuck shop at Chateau Gardens nursing home, and took time off from her retirement this year to help Elmira Medical Clinic staff administer H1N1 flu shots to its patients.
“She was just a dedicated nurse,” said Dr. Michael Norris. “As a person, she wholeheartedly loved and enjoyed people.”
Martin, 67, attended Waterloo Mennonite Brethren church. A memorial service in her honor was held Wednesday.