Martha (Hodges) Katz

Martha Hodges Katz, 73

Youngstown - Martha Hodges  Katz died  Saturday  night  at  her home in n  Youngstown,  surrounded by  her  family l y,  after a nine yea r battle e with cancer. Calling hours will be at the Schiavone Funeral Home, 1842 Belmont Ave, Youngstown,   and Friday from noon to 4pm and 6 to 9pm and from 9 to 9:50am on Saturday, preceding a funeral at 1Oam

Martha was born  August  I, 1 94 1  in n  Ashland,  Kentucky, the third  chi ld of  Richard  Edward  Hodges and  Marian McQueen  Hodges.

Martha is s survived by a son, Stephen Katz of New York City, a daughter, Julia Katz White (William) and three granddaughters,  Miranda, Rebecca  and  Sarah, all of  Bala  Cynwyd,  Pennsylvania. She also leaves two brothers.

Richard E. Hodges (Cleo) of Atlanta,  Stephen Hodges (Sallie) of Abingdon, Va., a sister, Harriet Mahler (Daniel ) of Charlottesville,Va, a sister-in-law, Eleanor Katz of Poughkeepsie, NY, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Finally, Martha leaves her life-partner of 27 years and caregiver, Raymond Nakley, J r. and two beloved felines, Mr.  Squeaker and Abby, with whom she shared her home.

She was preceded in death by sisters-in-law Barbara Hodges, Betty Burke and Edna Buntman, a brother-in-law Dr.  Bertram Katz and nephew Jon Katz.

After moving to the Youngstown area in 1969, Martha graduated Summa Cum Laude from Youngstown State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1974, and a Master of Science in Education from YSU in 1976. She was both  a  National  Certified Counselor and  a  Licensed  Professional  Clinical  Counselor ( L P.C C )

Martha began her career as a mental health worker in 1976 and worked for several agencies before becoming a counselor in n private practice from 1988 to 2009.   She served as an Instructor in Family Medicine for the former Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM now NEOMED) from 1990 to 1997

Martha served the community as a member of the Mahoning Co. Commissioners' Advisory Board to the Battered Persons Crisis Center and on the boards of Save lnc Program for Victims of Domestic Violence, Rya n White Fund AlDS Consortium, Burdman Group and the Sojourner House Domestic Violence Shelter.   Martha was instrumental in founding Sojourner House, gave the shelter its name, and was a Sojourner volunteer for many years.

Martha was a longtime activist for peace with justice in Palestine. For many years she was a member of the Arab American Community Center of Greater Youngstown (AACC) of the Coalition for Peace in the Middle East (CPME) and the Valley Coalition for Peace and Justice (YCPJ). Martha established the Youngstown Chapter of Women in Black (an international women’s peace movement).

In 1993, Martha led a delegation from Youngstown to El -Bireh, Palestine establishing a sister-city relationship between the cities. In 1995 and 1996, Martha led CPME delegations from Youngstown to UN Headquarters in New York City to participate in efforts for peace and justice.   In 2002, Martha, led Women in Black in silent vigil for an hour each week in front of the Federal Buildings in downtown Youngstown  to protest US government policy in the region. In 2004,  as a member of YCPJ,  Martha  initiated  a weekly  series of public vigils, which still  occur, protesting the wars in  Afghanistan  and  Iraq .   In 2006, Martha co-led, with Ray Nakley, a media delegation from Youngstown to Palestine-Israel to report on prospects for peace. Martha served as President of the Interfaith Council for Peace in the Middle East (IFCPM E) which, during her tenure in 2008, organized and hosted the first SABEE L international conference for northeast Ohio in n Cleveland at the River's Edge Community of the Sisters of St.  Joseph.

Over the years, Martha received special recognitions for her professionalism, community service and peace advocacy. These included the Doris Burdman Service Award, the Clair M. Carlin Award, and Sojourner House Special Recognition for service to the victims of domestic violence, three awards from the AACC for working for peace with justice in n the Middle East, and Peace advocacy awards from both the Presbyterian and United Methodist Churches.

Martha loved sharing good food with family and friends at favorite restaurants and at home as she was a wonderful cook in her own right. She was a treasured and deeply loved member of the extended  Nakley  family, which was on y real l y complete at Thanksgiving when  Martha's  son, daughter,  son-in-law  and  granddaughters traveled, faithfully,  from  the  east coast,  for many  years,  to make  the  celebration  the  highlight  of  the  year.

Martha loved to travel. She was grateful  for wonderful  trips  with  her  sister to Thailand,  Nepal  and  East  Africa and with her sister and brother-in-law to Yellowstone National Park, Caribbean trips with her children and grandchildren and to the Pantanal  of Brazil  with  her son.

Martha was an avid reader, enjoyed poetry and music of all kinds. Martha loved animals and, she rescued most of her cats from the streets, some injured severely and offered each one a safe and loving home. Martha loved the Canfield Fai r and worked for many years at the International Building in the Lebanon, Palestine and United Nations booths.

Martha and her family are deeply grateful to her physicians, Drs. Nelson, Krishnan, Singh, Labib, Katz and Ricciardi , their staff members, especially Mary, Darlene and Kim of Dr Nelson's office, and the Hospice of the Valley House and crisis nursing staff for their excellent care, kindnesses, and considerations.

Material tributes may be sent to the Interfaith Council for Peace in the Middle East (IFCPM E), 112 N Garland Ave, Youngstown, OH 44506. Any funds will be used to continue Martha's work for peace with justice in the Middle East supporting victims of domestic violence and caring for homeless animals.

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