Suzanne B. (Hoida) Martens, 65, went peacefully home on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011, to greet those who preceded her to heaven.

Suzanne was born fifth of six children to George and Florence Hoida of rural Coleman, five minutes after her identical twin, Sue.

She was loved and respected by all who knew her. She was an extremely generous person. Suzanne went to grade school at the one-room, Brault School. She then attended Coleman High School.

She dated Ken, her adoring husband, throughout high school, (they were known as the “Real McCoy’s”). They were married in 1965. It was a marriage envied and respected by many. They shared and partnered in all their decisions. They taught their children how to love and share by example.

Suzanne worked at Chevrolet Motor Division in Green Bay after high school. After being married, Suzanne transferred to Madison, where Ken worked, and continued her employment at GMC Acceptance Corp. She then accepted a job with the State of Wisconsin DNR. Suzanne left work to be a stay-at-home mom until the children started school. She returned to work at NWTC and officially retired in 2001.

Suzanne began her fight against cancer in early 2007. This fight included two stem cell transplants and two treatments that included 96 hours of chemotherapy. Weeks in the hospital with infections and pneumonia were also involved, along with more standard chemotherapy treatments. Her cancer, multiple myeloma, a blood plasma cancer, found its way around every drug provided for her treatment, including drugs in the clinical trial stage. Suzanne handled all of this adversity with elegance and dignity. She never once complained, “Why me?”

Suzanne loved to shop and was into antiques of all kinds. She loved her tidy home with her ever-changing displays of antiques and seasons. She loved cobalt blue, and red dishes, but any antique was a must-have.

Suzanne loved her husband and children. Her grandchildren would put a smile on her face from ear to ear. She dearly loved them.

She is survived by her husband, Kenneth; her adoring children and their spouses, Mitzi (Mark) Sorenson, Mundelein, Ill.; John Martens, Green Bay; and Michelle (Don) Rundberg, Jackson, Wis.; and her grandchildren, Shayla and Skyler Rundberg.

Her surviving siblings and their spouses include, Janet (Richard) Rebman, Green Bay; Beverly (Tom) Killian, Waukegan, Ill.; Allen (Judy) Hoida, Coleman; her identical twin Sue (Richard) Sadowski, Coleman; and Kathy LeFevre-Hoida, Peshtigo. She was loved beyond measure by her nieces and nephews and in turn by her great-nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by her Chantel Street neighborhood friends, and her former co-workers.

Friends may call at Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave., from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. A Parish Wake Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1484 Ninth St., at 10 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Dane Radecki O.Praem officiating. Following cremation, her remains will be buried in St. John Cemetery in Coleman. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

Thank you to all who donated blood, plasma, platelets, or stem cells. You made these past few years possible, and granted her wish to live long enough so that her grandchildren could remember her.

A special thank you to her identical twin Sue for her stem cells, and constant companionship and love. The twins were always on the same wavelength.

Another special thank you to the nurses at Green Bay Oncology, and Dr. Jaslowski. And also to the nurses on the third floor at St. Mary’s hospital, and the extra-special care Suzanne received from Kelly.