Martha Jean Kitchen (née Anderson), lovingly known as “MJ” to her friends and “Mammie” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, passed away leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and unforgettable stories.

Born on February 5, 1940, in Curwensville, Pennsylvania, Martha Jean lived a life full of personality, warmth, and deep devotion to her family. She was a kind and spirited woman, known for her “spicy” nature, her sharp wit, and her ability to make those around her laugh. She spoke her mind, loved deeply, and brought a unique energy to every room she entered.

Martha Jean was married to Walter Kitchen for 68 wonderful years, sharing a life full of love, laughter, and adventures including trips to car shows that they both enjoyed so much.

In her younger years, she played the clarinet in high school, carrying that same sense of joy and expression throughout her life. She was also a devoted mother who raised three children: Robert Kitchen (wife Dawn), Helen Schulz (Robert Schulz d.2013), and Carrie Ann Green (Kevin James ).

If you knew her as MJ, you knew she had a spark.

If you knew her as Martha Jean, you knew she was strong and kind.

But if you knew her as “Mammie”… then you knew something truly special.

Mammie was love, but not the quiet kind. She was bold, honest, a little spicy… and completely unforgettable.

She had a way of making people feel comfortable being exactly who they were. She didn’t pretend, she didn’t hold back, and she didn’t expect you to either. And somehow, in that honesty, she made people feel deeply loved.

She loved her coffee, she kept caramel creams close by, sometimes a little too close and if you were one of the grandkids, you knew exactly where to look. One of the best memories is of a great grandchild , just four or five years old, patting her down for candy like it was the most normal thing in the world. Because with Mammie, it was.

She was also a master of creating comfort and joy in small, lasting ways. Her crocheted blankets are still used by her family every day, a tangible reminder of her care and warmth. She painted ceramics too, often frogs which she loved, little pieces of her personality that still make us smile.

She also had a mischievous streak. In her younger days, she once took her husband Walter’s Ford Mustang out drag racing while he was at work…an adventure that ended with a blown water pump and a story that would live on in family lore for years.

She had pride in who she was and what mattered to her like the Air Force tattoo she wore proudly honoring her grandson’s achievements.

And then there are the little things that only family knows.

The nicknames she gave her grandchildren.

The places she enjoyed like Greenwood.

The way she gave hugs… the kind that made everything feel okay.

She even loved dogs that matched her personality: small, full of attitude, and impossible not to love. She leaves behind her beloved dog, Chase, who was a special companion and brought her comfort and joy.

Martha Jean leaves behind a family who adored her and will continue to carry her spirit, her stories, and her love forward. She is survived by her husband, Walter Kitchen; her children Robert Kitchen (wife Dawn) and Helen Schulz (d. Robert Schulz), her grandchildren Stefanie Jean LaJuett (fiancé Joshua Bendure), April Nobles, Jason Kitchen, Jacquelyn LeVan (Eric LeVan), Mathew, and Robert Jr. Kitchen, her great-grandchildren Samuel Schulz, Allison, Cole, Dylan, Jackson, Kaydence, Bridget, Sailor, Bristol, Granger, Jason, and Maverick; her nephews Tom Horgan, Tim Horgan, and Terry Horgan; Nieces Joyce Buffalo ( d. Paul Buffalo), Doris and countless friends whose lives she touched.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Carrie Ann Green, her son in law Robert Schulz, her siblings Andy Anderson, Betty, Helen Horgan, and Thomas, and her nephew Jerry Anderson with whom she shared many early memories that helped shape the strong and spirited woman her family came to know and love.

She will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and forever loved.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Martha Jean’s memory by making a donation to a local animal shelter, enjoying a caramel cream, or simply sharing a story and a cup of coffee in her honor.