Obituary of Martha Jack

Martha "Mari" Jack, who left a small village outside of Glasgow, Scotland for what became a delightfully happy life on both sides of the Hudson, died on May 31, 2013. The lifelong Hudson County native was 81. Martha arrived on New Year's Eve 1953 after saying goodbye to her village of Hallside. Asked why she did it, she said: "I had a fight with my boyfriend." Martha loved big-city life. She got a job with New York Bank and took an apartment with a couple of roommates on the Upper East Side. She met Paul Jack, in 1958 and they eloped after a whirlwind three-month courtship. They later had a traditional wedding in an Upper East Side church, followed by a black-tie reception at the trendy Hudson Hotel. The couple moved to "the country" -- actually West New York -- two years later, after their first child, Deborah, was born. They also had a son, Greg, who died several years ago. Paul and Martha would later be what she called "happily divorced." Although she lived along the Palisades the rest of her days, Manhattan remained Martha's playground. She was a frequent patron of the theatre, opera and museums, and enjoyed meandering through Soho and the West Village. Martha was also a world traveler. Her favorite destinations included Paris, where she often went with family and friends. One of them called her a "woman of worldly knowledge," well-versed in news and politics. Martha retired in 1996 after several years as the National Sales and Credit Manager for Peugeot Bicycles. She remained active, both physically and intellectually, and kept a lovely home. Not long ago, Martha and Deborah were strolling along the Hudson in Jersey City, admiring the construction of the Freedom Tower across the river. "That's New York," her daughter said. "I know. I used to live there," Martha replied. "I've had a really good life." Besides Deborah, Martha is survived by her sister, Ann, brother, Frankie and a sister, Ann, who lives in Scotland; her grandson - Greg's son - Michael; and nine nieces and nephews. All of them live in Toronto, Canada. There's also Yvonne, Martha's best friend of nearly 50 years, who lives in Weehawken. Martha cared deeply for her family living north of the border. She was also proud of being the only one who moved to the U.S. "Don't judge me for where I am," she often said. "Judge me for how far I've come." Memorial visitation on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at McCorry Brothers Funeral Home, 780 Anderson Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ from 2-5 PM. Service will be held on Saturday, June 8th at McCorry Brothers Funeral Home at 4 PM.