Obituary

Martha Olive Sawyer Jensen
7/15/1942 to 2/6/2025

Martha Olive Sawyer Jensen born on July 15, 1942, in Worcester, Massachusetts to Irving Perry Sawyer and Alice Becker Sawyer, passed away peacefully, at her temporary home in Trabuco Hills Subacute in Lake Forest, California after The Lord wrapped his arms around her and took her home with him.

Martha, an only child, grew up in an Old New England Christian family, as the daughter of a carpenter/businessman and a school nurse. They attended Wesley Methodist-Episcopal-Congregational Church. She graduated from Green Mountain College, Vermont. Received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration, from UC Redlands. Then received a degree in holistic wellness from Golden West College, in preparation for a Certificate in Spiritual Direction which she received from Loyola Marymount. She utilized this as a volunteer on the UCI Hospital Chaplain team, administrating spiritual care to patients in need. She retired from her primary position at UCI Medical center, Orange after 15 years, as an analyst for the Dean of the College of Surgery.

Martha had a family, she sailed and travelled the world. She was a very social and dynamic person, with an incredible vocabulary, infectious smile and a hearty laugh. She loved a good joke. She was a member of multiple organizations to include the Women’s Club of Orange, The Daughters of the American Revolution in Tustin, and the Garden club. Past organizations include OLLI, Eastern Star and AAUW where she formed many friendships. She was a prolific writer of short stories, including funny tales of her own life. She loved her children, her friends and neighbors, her many birds, even those surrounding her home outside, along with the dragonflies and butterflies in the beautiful nature scene of babbling creeks and ponds just outside her window where she could peacefully gaze and meditate. She found peace through meditation which also led to a rewarding and fulfilling secondary career at UCI’s department of Health education where she taught meditation breathing techniques to pre-surgical patients for post-surgical healing.

She had endless hobbies: mediation, photography, gardening, silver jewelry, gemology (rocks and minerals) and wore jewelry to reflect this interest. She was passionate about spirituality (she was a member of the First Christian Church of Orange congregation), art, singing, (she sang in the Crystal Cathedral Choir for 11years), music from the Ukulele to unique instruments like the didgeridoo, the dulcimer to the Native American flutes and drumming. She also loved a great mystery, genealogy, patriotism, a good meal with friends and venti-sized Oreo cookie Frappuccinos.

She is survived by her two adult children, her daughter Kirsten Kirkegaard-Jensen Paz and her son, Eric Kirkegaard-Jensen; her son-in-law, Roberto Alfredo Paz, her cousin Sandra Becker in Brazil along with her two daughters Patricia and Priscilla with their children, along with multiple cousins from her father’s side of the family living on the East Coast: cousin Silvia & her children, cousin Pat’s children – 2^nd cousins Perry Whited, Randy Whited, Cyndi Thompson and Laurel Crebase.

A Celebration of Life for Martha will be held at First Christian Church of Orange, on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 1pm. A graveside service will be held for her place of rest, back home at the family plot at the Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Boylston, Massachusetts, at a TBD in early summer of 2025.

In lieu of flowers the Jensen family requests donations in memory of Martha Jensen be sent to UCI Health in support of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Please make checks to “UCI Foundation” and write “In memory of Martha Jensen” on the memo line. Mail checks to: UCI Health Advancement, ATTN: Jennifer Sarrail, 3800 West Chapman Ave., Ste 3300, Orange, CA 92868.

You may also donate online: https://secure.give.uci.edu/donation/?COA1=004611&COA2

Please be sure to complete the “My Gift is in Memory or Honor of Someone” section. In Memory of: Martha Jensen, Please notify the following person: Kirsten Paz (daughter) at the following email address: kirkepaz@gmail.com, in order to thank the donors.