Martha B. Maher, 76, of Bethesda

» Information from the Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Homes website.

Martha B. Maher 76, died on Monday, August 31, 2015, at her home in Bethesda surrounded by her family. She was born December 12, 1938, the oldest of six children.

Martha devoted her life to caring for others. She was a graduate of Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Baltimore, and received her Masters of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Martha started her career as an emergency room nurse at Mercy Hospital and spent the majority of her 41 years as a practicing nurse at National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. She was a Clinical Nurse Expert in Cardiac Surgery for 12 years, where she taught nursing students from all over the world. She was a Nurse Specialist and Supervisory Clinical Nurse in the Ambulatory Care Unit, a Clinical Nurse in Heart and Lung Nursing Services, Supervisory Clinical Nurse in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and a Nurse Research Specialist in Medical Oncology. Martha’s last position at NIH before retiring was a Clinical Trials Monitoring Specialist.

After her father’s early death in 1969, she devoted herself to helping to raise her three youngest siblings, who were youngsters at the time. Her selfless devotion to their needs shaped them as adults. She was a devoted sister and an invaluable friend to anyone she knew.

Surviving are her siblings, Daniel P. Maher, Carole M. Fahey, Leigh M. Johnson and David W. Maher; nine nieces and nephews; and five great nieces and nephews. Her brother, John G. Maher, predeceased her.

Friends will be received at Pumphrey’s Funeral Home, 7557 Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda on Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Church, 9601 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 11 a.m.

Interment to follow at Parklawn Memorial Park. Contributions in Martha B. Maher’s name may be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Attn: Donor Services, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309.