Martha Helen Gurd

Martha Helen Gurd, aged 56, died January 6, 2015, peacefully after a long illness at home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, surrounded by her brother, Charles Gurd. Martha Gurd was the daughter of Ruth S. Gurd and Frank R.N. Gurd. She is survived by her brother, Charles Gurd, and her half-brother, Fraser B. Gurd of Madison, WI and her half-sister, Kathleen Gurd Lamb of Boston, MA, There will be a memorial service held at St. Chad’s Episcopal Church (7171 Tennyson NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87122) at 10:30 am on April 11, 2015, with internment at the Church afterwards. Martha Gurd wrote poetry for many years and was a care-giver, student teacher and owner of Martha’s Petsitting Plus, in Bloomington, Indiana.  In the early 1980s, she often gave massages to people suffering from AIDS. She also worked as an Advocate for Middleway (an organization that helps abused women in Bloomington, Indiana) and escorted abused women to court. She was a life-long Episcopalian but believed that all creatures - great and small - are part of God’s creation. One of Martha’s last poems states: “Thy SON's face I see in the distance ....”  Before Martha died, she told Charles and some of her close friends that she hoped everyone who came to her memorial would wear purple or other bright clothing as she wanted that day to be a day of celebration not of mourning as she knew she was going to a better place. In lieu of flowers, Martha and her family are requesting donations be made to Middleway (checks should be sent to P.O. Box 95, Bloomington, IN 47402) or to the Brain Support Network (PO Box 7264, Menlo Park, CA 94026, www.brainsupportnetwork.org). To share memories with the family please visit Martha's memorial webpage at www.danielsfuneral.com.

Daniels Family Funeral Services
7601 Wyoming Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505-821-0010