Martha Jane "Marti" Massello

Martha Jane “Marti” Massello, age 79, of Bolivar, died peacefully, surrounded by her family, in her home, following a period of declining health on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

Born in Canton, Ohio on November 29, 1945, Marti as she was known to friends and family, was a daughter of the late Thomas Simon and Pauline and William Palmer.

Marti graduated from Timken High School and was a stay-at-home mom and seamstress until she returned to school to earn her bachelor's degree in social work. After graduation she devoted many years working as a grief counselor for patients and loved ones of those suffering from HIV and AIDS.

She then found her true calling at Hospice where she spent almost 30 years serving the Tuscarawas County and surrounding communities.

She had a sense of humor that brought laughter to the darkest situations and even at the end she was laughing and making Monty Python jokes!

She will be deeply missed by her husband of 30 years, Don Brandt; her daughters, Meegan Massello, and Emily (Jay) Deaver; step-daughters, Stephane (Sam) Macio and Christine (Patrick) O’Toole; her grandchildren, Paige, Ethan, Adele, Maya, Sophia, and Stella; a sister, Jean Royer and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her father, mother, and step-father, Marti was preceded in death by a son, Paul Massello and two sisters, Rachel and Nancy.

In keeping with her wishes there will be no public visitation or services. Cremation care has been handled by the Geib Funeral Center at Dover.

The family requests contributions in Marti’s name be directed to any hospice organization of the donor’s choosing.