Marta Josephina Churchill

Marta Josefina Rabinovich Churchill (April 17, 1942-May 2, 2022). Marta died peacefully of complications related to Dementia. She had incredible patience, a kind heart and a beautiful laugh, gifts that all stayed with her until the end.

Born in Buenos Aires, Marta remained a proud Porteña for her whole life, even though she spent more than half of it in Canada.

A kick-ass, independent lady, she taught in some of the poorest and roughest neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires before traveling through South America as a solo female traveler in the late 60s/early 70s, at a time when it was far less common for women to do so. On one trip, she met Roger (Wheelock), with whom she traveled for a number of months. She met him again for a trip in eastern Africa the following year and they married in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania before moving together to Victoria, BC, where Marta would live the rest of her life.

Soon after coming to Canada, Marta and Roger had Joshua (b. 1972) and then Noah (b. 1975). Following a divorce in the early 80s, Marta then met Alan while taking tennis lessons. As a life-long anti-exerciser, Marta meeting someone this way was an encounter so unlikely, it had to be fate. Marta and Alan married and were together nearly four decades, until her death.

Professionally, she became a teacher, like her adored and adoring father, Abraham. Marta taught Spanish lessons from home to adults and was much-loved by her students. Most of the students took lessons ahead of a trip and Marta would always take the time to not just teach them Spanish but also learn and teach the idioms for each individual location they traveled to, so they each could have the best trip possible. The idioms changed between students, but the sound of laughter from her classes was a constant fixture at home.

She loved ice cream, Mercedes Sosa, being in the ocean, anacrostic puzzles, Sidney Poitier (including his acting!) and photos of two different species of animals hugging each other. But nothing would trump her lifelong love of all babies. She was more than a mother, but she was a mother to the last.

A special thank you to the wonderful people at Kiwanis Pavilion who were with her in her last years and days.

Marta will be missed dearly by husband Alan, brother Guillermo (Lydia), sons Josh and Noah (Stephanie) and her cherished grandkids, Ayelet and Levi.

Marta, mum, Aba - chau. We love you.