Martha Pfahler, 69, Was Devoted to Her Family

Martha H. (Haynes) Wood Pfahler, 69, of South Windsor, Conn., widow of Sanford Pfahler, died Thursday, March 20, at home.

Born in Springfield on June 21, 1923, daughter of the late Walter and Frances Blomfield Haynes, she had lived in South Windsor for the last 42 years. Before retiring in 2002, she was employed as a dietitian for Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Conn., for 31 years.

Mrs. Pfahler was a member of the Wapping Community Church in South Windsor, where she was a member of the prayer chain. She enjoyed the outdoors, including hiking, walking, the beach and Martha's Vineyard. She had been a member of FISH (Friends in Service Here) for many years and enjoyed gardening. Her children were the center of her life and she loved them dearly.

She is survived by a son and daughter in law, Steven and Linda Wood of Belchertown; four daughters and three sons in law, Deborah and Clifford Staggs of Whiting, Me., Barbara and Michael Skog of West Willington, Conn., Beverly and Farhad Sayeed of Hamden, Conn., and Cathryn Wood of Edgartown; two brothers and sisters in law, Philip and Janet Haynes of Granby, Conn., and James and Ellen Haynes of Munson; nine grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 24, at Wapping Community Church, 1790 Ellington Road, South Windsor, with the Rev. Kristen J. Kleiman officiating. Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Springfield. Her family will receive friends Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, 419 Buckland Road, South Windsor.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1004, Meriden, CT 06450 or to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 276 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Edgartown, MA 02539.