Obituary for Martha Rose Santoro (Craven)
Martha Rose Craven Santoro, 95, of New York City, formerly of Knightstown, passed away peacefully at home on June 7, 2020 surrounded by her family, much love and music.
Born on November 5, 1924 to the late John and Ruth (Scovell) Craven, Martha grew up on her beloved family farm located on the Greensboro Pike in Knightstown. Martha was the great- great granddaughter of Waitsell M. Cary, the founder of Knightstown.
A 1942 graduate of Knightstown High School, Martha, a natural storyteller, spoke fondly of her participation in the Marching Band and her 4H activities at the town, county and state level. She was a blue and sweepstakes ribbon baker.
After attending Central Business College in Indianapolis, she worked as a secretary at P.R. Mallory, the Indiana Farm Bureau, and the Division of Public Works and Safety. Later she was the campaign secretary for Alex Campbell, the Democratic candidate for the US Senate and then worked at the Department of Veteran Affairs. After this, Martha was offered a job with the Department of State in the Foreign Service. She served in Washington, D.C.; Rome and Venice, Italy; and Brussels, Belgium.
When she returned to the U.S., she settled in New York City, a city she felt had the best combination of the Old and New Worlds. It was here that she was a secretary at IBM, Columbia Records, The Julliard School, and Shell Oil. Martha loved to work with people and she retired from Olsten Temporary Service where she helped hundreds of people find jobs. She was much beloved by her “temps”, many of whom stayed in touch over the years and attended her 90th birthday celebration.
Over the years, Martha and her daughter Linda returned to Knightstown to visit family for holidays, birthdays and to attend the annual Alumni dinner. Later, her granddaughter Rebecca would join in on these annual visits.
In her spare time Martha enjoyed playing the piano, attending the theatre, the ballet, and concerts, as well as reading, cooking, and travelling. Early on, Martha shared her love of travel with her sister Mary, who in turn travelled the world. In later years Martha and Mary took a number of trips together, their favorite of which was sailing to England on the Queen Elizabeth 2 and then flying home on the Concorde.
Martha will be lovingly remembered by her daughter Linda Santoro (husband, Eugene Falik) of New York City, her granddaughter Rebecca Falik of Indianapolis, her sister, Mary Craven of Knightstown, Deborah Falik of New York City, ex-husband, Dino Santoro (wife, Gladys) of New York City and several cousins.
In addition to her parents, Martha was preceded in death by her brother, Allen Craven, and sister-in-law, Ann Craven.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Martha’s memory either to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or the Knightstown High School Alumni Association, PO Box 121, Knightstown, IN 46148, or Historic Knightstown, 24 North Washington Street, Knightstown, IN. 46148
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, June 13, 2020 at Heritage Funeral Care in Knightstown with Fr. John Hall officiating. Burial will follow at Glen Cove Cemetery.
Friends may call from 11 – 2 pm prior to the service at the funeral home.
The family requests to please wear a mask while visiting in the funeral home.
You may send the family a personal condolence at www.heritagefuneralcares.com.
The Hunt family and Heritage staff are honored to serve the family of Martha Rose.
Born on November 5, 1924 to the late John and Ruth (Scovell) Craven, Martha grew up on her beloved family farm located on the Greensboro Pike in Knightstown. Martha was the great- great granddaughter of Waitsell M. Cary, the founder of Knightstown.
A 1942 graduate of Knightstown High School, Martha, a natural storyteller, spoke fondly of her participation in the Marching Band and her 4H activities at the town, county and state level. She was a blue and sweepstakes ribbon baker.
After attending Central Business College in Indianapolis, she worked as a secretary at P.R. Mallory, the Indiana Farm Bureau, and the Division of Public Works and Safety. Later she was the campaign secretary for Alex Campbell, the Democratic candidate for the US Senate and then worked at the Department of Veteran Affairs. After this, Martha was offered a job with the Department of State in the Foreign Service. She served in Washington, D.C.; Rome and Venice, Italy; and Brussels, Belgium.
When she returned to the U.S., she settled in New York City, a city she felt had the best combination of the Old and New Worlds. It was here that she was a secretary at IBM, Columbia Records, The Julliard School, and Shell Oil. Martha loved to work with people and she retired from Olsten Temporary Service where she helped hundreds of people find jobs. She was much beloved by her “temps”, many of whom stayed in touch over the years and attended her 90th birthday celebration.
Over the years, Martha and her daughter Linda returned to Knightstown to visit family for holidays, birthdays and to attend the annual Alumni dinner. Later, her granddaughter Rebecca would join in on these annual visits.
In her spare time Martha enjoyed playing the piano, attending the theatre, the ballet, and concerts, as well as reading, cooking, and travelling. Early on, Martha shared her love of travel with her sister Mary, who in turn travelled the world. In later years Martha and Mary took a number of trips together, their favorite of which was sailing to England on the Queen Elizabeth 2 and then flying home on the Concorde.
Martha will be lovingly remembered by her daughter Linda Santoro (husband, Eugene Falik) of New York City, her granddaughter Rebecca Falik of Indianapolis, her sister, Mary Craven of Knightstown, Deborah Falik of New York City, ex-husband, Dino Santoro (wife, Gladys) of New York City and several cousins.
In addition to her parents, Martha was preceded in death by her brother, Allen Craven, and sister-in-law, Ann Craven.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Martha’s memory either to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or the Knightstown High School Alumni Association, PO Box 121, Knightstown, IN 46148, or Historic Knightstown, 24 North Washington Street, Knightstown, IN. 46148
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, June 13, 2020 at Heritage Funeral Care in Knightstown with Fr. John Hall officiating. Burial will follow at Glen Cove Cemetery.
Friends may call from 11 – 2 pm prior to the service at the funeral home.
The family requests to please wear a mask while visiting in the funeral home.
You may send the family a personal condolence at www.heritagefuneralcares.com.
The Hunt family and Heritage staff are honored to serve the family of Martha Rose.