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Obituary
Catherine Elizabeth Martel, born on June 8, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, passed away peacefully, held by her family on April 19, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the age of 83.
Caye loved her husband, John, with her whole heart, and 61 years of marriage was the proof. Those who watched them dance together on the floor saw it plainly. Whether it was a two-step, a waltz, or just whatever the music called for, the way Caye looked at John said everything. He adored her right back. They retired earlier than most and made the most of every single moment, chasing warmth as Winter Texans for two decades and setting out on a mission to visit every microbrewery west of Michigan.
She was gifted in many ways, but those who knew her best would agree that her greatest talent was being a mom, a wife, a grandmother, and a friend. She went back to school later in life to earn her associate's degree as a Medical Lab Technician, graduating at the very same time her son, Todd, crossed the stage at the end of high school. She was enormously proud of that milestone. And it was just like her. Caye had a gift for turning an initial "no way" into rolling up her sleeves and figuring it out. She was a lifelong learner, curious and open, embracing new things right up until the very end.
Caye's warmth and humor were never more alive than on Game Night. Whether it was cards or board games, she was always in. Some of those nights stretched well into the early morning hours, fueled by competition, cold beer, and raucous laughter that filled the room. There was nothing she loved more than watching the next player squirm during a long, hard-fought round of Golf or Euchre.
She and John shared a deep love for craft beer and the adventures that came with it. Along the way, Caye made friends with patrons and staff alike, often on a first-name basis before the second visit. She had a particular soft spot for Tag-a-Brew, collecting 242 tags over the years, and even this year she had her sights set on 300. And if there was a pumpkin brew on the menu, it didn't matter that it was April. She was ordering it.
Caye made friends wherever she went. She was curious and warm, a natural listener who had a gift for making people feel seen and supported. For as long as anyone could remember, she kept a close circle of lifelong girlfriends who, in their retirement years, gathered weekly for afternoon movies and lunch, women who had shared a lifetime together through raising children, camping trips, sports leagues, and all the ordinary, beautiful moments in between. The volume of love and outreach that has poured in since her passing is a testament to the kind of friend she truly was.
Her vibrant personality shone through everything she touched, but perhaps nowhere more beautifully than in her paper card crafting. For over 30 years, she and her dearest friend Vickie Nipp created handmade cards filled with artistry and personal care, each one a small expression of love. The thank-you texts and notes that poured back in told the whole story: her cards brought people genuine joy, and they remain cherished keepsakes for everyone lucky enough to have received one.
That same creative spirit showed up everywhere in how Caye moved through the world. She had a deep love of color and a knack for finding the most wonderful jackets and accessories, the kind that stopped strangers in their tracks and sparked a conversation. And she loved nothing more than that moment of connection. On a visit to California to see her daughter Beth, she came home with an eyebrow piercing. In her late fifties. She was absolutely delighted when young people noticed, and the look on her face when someone told her she was cool was pure joy. She never stopped surprising people, and she never stopped enjoying it.
In her younger years, Caye was a natural athlete, an avid bowler, a softball player, a basketball coach and referee, and a devoted tennis player for several years. As her knees slowed her down, she found new community and joy in Tai Chi, embracing it wholeheartedly. That was Caye. Aging was not always easy, but she kept finding new things that brought her joy and new people to share them with.
Her Catholic faith was a guiding force throughout her entire life. She attended Catholic school from her earliest days, and after high school she even pursued a calling to become a nun. Eventually she came to understand that she was better suited to serve God as a wife and mother, and she poured herself into both. That faith never wavered. Through the health struggles of recent years, she leaned on it with grace and certainty, trusting that God would care for her and for those she loved. Each day she prayed for her family and friends by name, every single one of them, while saying grace before a meal.
Caye was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Henrietta Paquette, five siblings, and dearly loved cats. She is survived by her loving spouse, John Martel; her children, Beth (Jorge Santillan) Martel and Todd (Nikki) Martel; her treasured grandchildren, Ian Santillan, Callie Martel, and Lizzie Martel; her sister, Michele Smith; and her senior cat, Maggie. Caye also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and dear friends who will forever hold her memory close.
She was loved by people from all corners of the country, many of whom she met simply by being open to the world and the people in it. That was her legacy: a life lived fully, shared generously, and felt deeply by everyone lucky enough to be in her orbit. And more than a few of those people she met over a really good pumpkin brew.
