Patricia Martin

MARTIN, Patricia Jean Burian - age 84, of Grand Blanc, died Monday, December 26, 2016. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 7296 Gale Rd., Grand Blanc with Fr. Michael W. Kuchar celebrant. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Christ Child Society of Detroit - Literacy Program, 502 N. Crooks Rd., Clawson, MI 48017 (http://ccsdetroit.org/). Mrs. Martin was born February 17, 1932 in Lyons, IL, the daughter of John and Evelyn (Pucci) Burian. She was a graduate of Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park, IL, earned a degree in Journalism, with High Honors, from the University of Illinois, and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. Later in her career, she returned to college and received a Master of Education from Oakland University. Patricia married Edward John Martin on October 16, 1954. She was a school teacher for the Bloomfield Hills Public Schools beginning in 1972 at Bloomfield Middle School, until her retirement in 2007 from Andover High School. During her tenure, she was head of the English Department at Andover, and was decorated as Teacher of the Year by The Macomb Daily and The Oakland Press in 2007. A voracious reader, her favorite authors were Ernest Hemingway, Harper Lee, Shakespeare, Ayn Rand, and a host of mystery writers. Surviving are: husband, Edward J. Martin of Grand Blanc; daughter, Pamela and husband, Dr. Joseph Hildebrand of Birmingham; son, David Martin and wife, Leigh of Troy; five grandchildren, Griffin, Kelsey, Blake, Abby and Karsten. She was preceded in death by: her brother, Richard Burian. In the words of historian and author Henry Adams, "A teacher affects eternity; she can never tell where her influence stops." Arrangements handled by Sharp Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 6063 Fenton Rd., Flint. Friends may share an online tribute on the obituary page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.