LEWISTON – Martha Christiansen, 54, of Lewiston, formerly a longtime resident of Norway, died Monday, Oct. 4 , at Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston.

Born April 3, 1950, in Dover-Foxcroft, she was a daughter of Willis and Clara Thomas. She graduated from Foxfcroft Academy; completed nurses training at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Bangor; earned a BSW from the University of Southern Maine in Portland, and an MSW from SUNY, Albany, N.Y.

She loved classical and jazz music, fishing at the family camp, poetry, art, the Wizard of Oz, nature, butterflies, etymology of words, coffee, playing Scrabble, her pets, and everything purple.

She was an avid reader, and enjoyed traveling the world as a young woman.

She was a member of the MENSA Society and enjoyed any spirited discussion – from how many different greens are in the forest?’ to String Theory.

Though illness and addiction complicated her life, she continually fought to overcome their bonds.

She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer and her husband, Douglas Bennett, of Bethel; her sister, Dee Bickmore of Kittery; a brother, John Thomas, of Stuyvestant, N.Y.; nieces, Julie, Nikki and Katie; a nephew, John, and good friend, Edward Kutlowski, of Hampton, N.H; favorite Aunt Jo; as well as several cousins.