Martha Marie Vaughan

Martha Marie Vaughan (nee Morawski) of Winthrop Harbor, IL passed away, surrounded by her loving family, on January 14, 2022 at Froedtert South Kenosha Hospital. Martha was born October 26, 1922 in Manhattan to parents John Morawski and Jeannette Schowalter (nee Bondu). She was brought up in Warsaw, Poland and Nantes, France. While in Nantes, she attended Parochial School and The Conservatory of Music. She was employed as a Paralegal and Legal Secretary for many years. Martha was a gifted pianist who, as a youth, grew up in Nantes, France. She enjoyed spending summers with her brother at the sea side in Port Ivy, Quibron, France. She endured the Nazi occupation of France during WWII with courage and resilience. At the age of 20, she was incarcerated in a Nazi prisoner of war camp for American and British civilians in Vittel, France. Toward the end of WWII, she was released in a prisoner of war exchange and returned to the United States. She moved to Lake County, IL when the Navy transferred her step-father to Great Lakes Naval Base. She worked at Great Lakes as a civil servant secretary for a time. In the early 60s she worked at an intellectual property law firm in Chicago, Pattishall, Macauliffe, and Hoffstetter, where she honed her skills as a legal secretary. When her mother became ill, Martha changed jobs to be closer to home. She worked at Outboard Marine Corporation in Waukegan in the legal department in the mid to late 70's. She retired in the late 80's from American Hospital Supply Corporation when they merged with Du Pont. She spent the rest of her life living in Northeastern Illinois. Martha loved the ocean and combing the beaches for sea shells. She liked to read and also enjoyed gardening, sewing, and knitting. She was able to work the New York Times crossword puzzles in ink! She loved her family fiercely. Her courage and resilience followed her throughout her life. Martha is survived by her daughter, Helen Marie (Michael H.) Smith of Winthrop Harbor, IL; grandchildren, Justin Michael Smith of Madison, WI and Lindsey Marie Smith of Chicago, IL; great-grandchild, Michael Patrick Smith; half-sister, Marilyn Marcia (Robert C.) Winkley (nee Schowalter) of Milwaukee, WI; nieces, Rachael Brooke Winkley of Milwaukee, WI, Martine Haddou (nee Morawski) and family of Port St. Lucie, FL, Muriel Guerard (nee Morawski) and family of Vertou, France; nephew, Roland Morawski and family of Port St. Lucie, FL; and great-niece, Isabella Brooke Carenen of Milwaukee, WI. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Morawski and Jeannette Schowalter (nee Bondu); step-father, Kenneth W. Schowalter; and brother, John Morawski. In honor of Martha’s wishes, there are no services for her planned at this time.