Martha W. Shaw, a 52-year resident of Rye, N.Y., died peacefully August 29, 2017, at Greenwich Hospital.
Born September 15, 1928, in York, Pa., she was the daughter of Hollis and Charlotte Ware. She graduated from high school in Alton, Ill. In 1949, she completed the nursing program at Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing in Boston, and met her future husband, Horton R. Shaw. They were married in March of 1950 and moved to Queens, N.Y., where Mrs. Shaw had two sons Edward (1955) and Stuart (1958). She was the president of the PTA for PS 199, and volunteered as a Cub Scout den mother.
In 1965, the family moved to Rye. Mrs. Shaw welcomed foreign exchange students to her home through the AFS and underprivileged New York City youth through the Fresh Air Fund. She returned to nursing, working at United Hospital in Port Chester, from 1972 to 2000. She volunteered at the Rye Nature Center, where she greatly enjoyed taking her grandchildren.
The Shaws were married for 55 years. Mr. Shaw died in 2005.
Mrs. Shaw moved to the Osborn Retirement Community, where she enjoyed painting and knitting. Several of her watercolors were displayed at the Rye Free Reading Room. As a prolific knitter/sewer, she took pride in knitting blankets, sweaters, and caps for Project Linus, which serves children in need and My Sister’s Place, which assists victims of domestic violence. She also knitted skullcaps for U.S. soldiers overseas and did needlepoint for church pew kneelers. Her blankets were particularly known for their intricacies and bold colors.
She is survived by her son, Edward and daughter-in-law Cathy of North Andover, Mass., granddaughters Amanda of Charlestown, Mass., and Catie of Houston, and her son Stuart and daughter-in-law Stephanie, and grandson Ian of New York, N.Y.
A celebration of Martha Shaw’s life will be held Saturday, September 30 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Formal Dining Room at The Osborn on Theall Road in Rye.
Donations in Martha W. Shaw’s memory may be made to The Rye Nature Center, 873 Post Road, Rye, NY 10580.
