Martha Sue Self, 83, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family Monday, February 26, 2024.
Martha was born October 30, 1940, in Salem, Illinois to the late Lester and Marie (Wagner) Flanders. She always had a heart for caring for others, and this was especially apparent in her 30-year career as a Certified Nurse Assistant at the Lutheran Community Home in Seymour, where her love for her residents was well known. She was equally loving to her family, always there for them and always keeping up with the latest news from children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her children looked forward to her daily check-in phone calls.
Together with the love of her life and husband of 35 years, Bernard Lee Self, she enjoyed fishing, camping, and traveling on their motorcycles. Because he made his living as a truck driver, Martha is fondly remembered for assuring her children got to all their ball games and other activities. But she was also known for admonishing her two sons, “Boys, wait til your father gets home!” Somehow she always found time for her other favorite pursuits: crocheting, embroidering, and ceramics; sitting on the porch with her bestie, Edith; and doting on her many cats, especially a special cat named Snowy.
Left behind to cherish her memory are her children, Pam (Jon) Carey, Dave (Cathy) Self, and Dan (Crystal) Self; grandchildren, Lindsey Carey, Matthew Carey, Courtney (Mark) Galvan, Lauren (Branson) Ping, Branson Self, Andon Self, Mitch Ray, Matthew Ray, Cara Blocker, Kayla Hunnicutt, and Erica (Greg) Montelione; great grandchildren, Dominic, Hanx, Millie, Norah, Abram, Linley, Marley, Eli, Ella, Casey, and Gray; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, Harold Flanders and Charlie Flanders.
Funeral services for Martha will be held on Saturday, March 2, at 11:00 a.m. at Voss & Sons Funeral Service, 316 N. Chestnut Street, Seymour. Pastor Dawn L. Barnes of Rockford Community Church will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday, March 1, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home and again Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. She will be laid to rest immediately following at Riverview Cemetery, Seymour.
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