Marta Ellen Vaesen

Marta Ellen Vaesen

June 19, 1927 – Feb 26, 2025

Marta passed peacefully at 6am on Feb 26th in Sidney, BC on the very same day that her

husband Camille Vaesen passed 33 years ago. She was 97 years old.

The youngest of 3 daughters born to Alice and Harry Kettle, in Hertfordshire near London,

England where Marta spent her childhood with sisters Betty (Anderson) and Doris

(Kennedy). They experienced the bombing Blitz in 1940 until the sisters were evacuated to

boarding school away from danger. Marta’s oft repeated joke about she and her sisters

was: “a blond, a redhead and a brunette!!” Marta served as a navy Wren on the Orkney

Islands in 1945.

Marta had an innate energy and sense of wonder for all things, especially nature,

knowledge and adventure. Always looking for the positive in people and situations, her

enthusiasm and true support are unforgettable for those who crossed paths with her.

Marta immigrated with her middle sister and mother to Winnipeg, Canada and she was a

stage actress of some acclaim in her 20’s under her unmarried name Marta Kettle. Later

she moved to Vancouver and married Harry Groom a commercial fisherman. She worked on the

boat up and down the Westcoast of BC and skied the coastal mountains in the winter.

In her 30’s and newly single she bravely returned to university as a mature student and

earned her BA as a teacher. She met her true love Camille Vaesen when she worked part

time at CN Express to pay off student loans. They were a natural fit and married in 1972,

and Marta entered the lives of Cam’s four children: Christine (Dave) Morman, Lance

(Kathie) Vaesen, Lynn (Ron) Zeleschuk and Paul (Wendy) Vaesen.

Marta’s dream of teaching became reality in 1969 at Belmont High School where she taught

English Literature and Physical Education until the mid 1980’s. Many students remember

her sweet English accent and habit of calling people “love” or “poppit”. An advocate of

sports she was a superb coach of both basketball and volleyball and inspired many young

people to reach for whatever goals they cherished.

Marta and Cam lived in Victoria until they retired and then built their own home on North

Pender Island in the 1980’s. It was a true labour of love and they were so proud of the home

they created and the natural beauty of their island paradise. They enjoyed a full social life

on Pender and golfed constantly. Sadly Cam passed in 1992. Marta stayed on Pender Island

until 2000 when she downsized and moved to Saanichton, BC.

Always a believer in physical fitness, Marta enjoyed tai chi, yoga and weight training but golf

was her favourite activity and she spent much of her time with fellow golfers, especially at

Cordova Bay Golf course. The group travelled to golf courses in other countries, Spain

being a very memorable trip.

Sadly in 2011 Marta received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and her life changed. With the help

of sister Doris and brother-in-law Steve she still took part in exercise and activities in Saanich.

Starting in early 2014 Marta received in-home care and in 2016 moved into long term care.

14 years of Alzheimer’s resulted in the loss of contact with many friends and family but she

is well remembered for her infectious smile, joy of life and loving nature. She has gently

inspired many of us to use our talents and intelligence to grow each day to the best we can

be. It was a privilege to have Marta in our lives and she will be deeply missed.

In addition to her stepchildren and their families, Marta is also survived by the two

daughters of sister Betty, loving nieces Libby Scott and Laura-Jane Charlton, both of

Ontario.

At Marta’s request there will be no funeral service and she will be placed at Camille’s side

in the beautiful Pender Island Cemetery, on the island they both loved so much.

Please, if you could share a memory and/or photo of Marta in the Share a Memory section it would be dearly appreciated.