Martha Bushby MacDonald

Martha Jellicoe Bushby MacDonald April 19, 1924—October 10, 2023. 
It is with deep respect and love that we remember the remarkable life of a woman who embodied the strength of the Greatest Generation. Born at the dawn of the 20th century, she lived nearly 100 years; a life marked by service, adventure, and unflappable versatility.
As a proud member of the Women's Army Corps during World War II, Martha demonstrated her resilience and commitment to duty early on. Beginning with her decision to leave college to enlist, her service to her country marked her life and defined her. Throughout her long life, Martha was politically astute and well informed about world events.
After her military service, she completed her college education, ultimately getting a master’s degree in education. Martha dedicated 25 years to shaping young minds as a classroom teacher and a reading specialist. Her intelligence and resourcefulness were evident in her efforts to guide a generation of students by opening the doors of literature to them. 
In a bold move characteristic of her independent spirit, she retired from teaching and moved to Cape Cod to open a Bed and Breakfast Inn. As family members reminisce about Martha, the wonderful summer vacations on the Cape are prominent in our memories.  This endeavor was not just a business, but a great pleasure as she created a welcoming haven for travelers from around the world, many of whom became dear friends. Through this enterprise, she met a wonderful man and her future husband, Addison MacDonald.
At the age of 68, she welcomed yet another new chapter of her life, marrying for the first time. She delighted that, in addition to her husband Ad, she was embraced by his daughters and his grandsons. Widowed ten years later, she continued to live life with grace and fortitude and in loving relationship to her family by marriage.
In 2008, Martha left the Cape to move to Albuquerque, New Mexico. She, at age 84, along with her sister, Margaret, age 87, drove across country together to accomplish this final relocation! The two sisters shared an impervious disregard for limits deemed arbitrary. The move was smoothly accomplished, and Martha’s life recentered in Albuquerque. She moved into retirement at La Vida Llena, where she remained a vibrant community member for the last 15 years of her life. Her friendships there were vitally important to her. Though she never had children of her own, she was a cherished aunt, deeply involved in the lives of her sister's three children and their families. Her generosity, support, and unfiltered wisdom were a cornerstone in each of their lives. She was always a beloved and central member of this family.
Martha is survived by her niece Sheila Hudson (David), nephew Jack Carmody, niece and namesake Martha Carmody (Rick Hodel), nephew-in-law Blake White, stepdaughters Joan Piper (Chuck) and Jane MacDonald, as well as the children and grandchildren of each of them. She was predeceased by her husband, Ad MacDonald, her sister, Margaret Carmody and her grandnephew, Stephen White. In her passing, she leaves behind a legacy of dignified independence and self-confidence, remarkable for a woman of her times.  Her story is not just one of a life well-lived, but an inspirational example of the spirit of her generation.
A Ceremony of Life will be held on Friday, December 8, 2023, in the chapel of La Vida Llena Retirement Community. Location: 10501 Lagrima De Oro NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87111. Service to begin at 10:00 am, coffee reception to follow. All are welcome.