Martha H. O'Donnell, 80, Lakewood Ranch, Fla., and summer resident of Clayton, N.Y., passed away Friday, June 19, 2026, at Tampa General Hospital in Florida. A vibrant force of nature with many extraordinary talents, she leaves behind a legacy as rich and colorful as the life she lived.
   Martha was born in Fort Crook, Neb., on December 27, 1945, daughter of John R. and Celesta (Bates) Hedge. She was a 1964 graduate of Southeast High School in Lincoln, Neb., and received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska. For this, Martha was a lifelong Cornhusker fan, carrying the spirit of her college cheerleading days throughout her entire life. She proudly sported Husker red during her annual trips to Lincoln for football games and tailgates with her college friends and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sisters.
   Besides being an avid sports enthusiast, she was passionate about playing golf, taking walks, solving her daily Sudoku puzzles, participating in her book clubs, and immersing herself in the beauty of music and art. She adored flowers and spent hours tending her gardens, enjoyed her painting classes, and never turned down a great glass of wine.
   She found peace living on the Saint Lawrence River, where she cherished quiet afternoon cruises, even if she didn't drive a boat particularly well. On land, her speed was a different story; she earned the nickname "Lady Leadfoot" from those who buckled up for the ride.
   She married James L. O'Donnell on June 25, 1994, and spent the next 32 years adventuring the world together. She was previously married to Stephen W. Yaussi, with whom she had two children and found her love of gardening. Martha was an expert traveler. From safari glamping in Africa to living through several political coups in Southeast Asia to managing the Drake Pass to Antarctica, there wasn’t a continent Martha didn’t put her foot on. She visited close to 80 countries, but France always had her heart—and that was something she would pass to her daughter and grandchildren.
   Martha’s love for France started with her begging her mother for French lessons from a French woman with a poodle that lived in her childhood neighborhood. She later became a French teacher and taught at Watertown High School in New York for close to 20 years, sharing her passion for the language and culture with generations of students. She was famously known for her high standards, sharp wit, and very low tolerance for poor grammar. She truly loved all things French, a passion she brought to life through her incredible cooking—especially her legendary pâté and tapenade. She was an amazing hostess that could whip up a dinner party in no time, but her favorite moments in the kitchen were those spent making breakfast for her grandchildren.
   Martha was also a respected leader in the community, lending her creativity and enthusiasm to many organizations in both New York and Florida. Some of those nearest and dearest to her heart were the Zoo New York at Thompson Park, The Nature Conservancy, Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, The Antique Boat Museum, and the 1000 Islands Art Center. She was a communicant of Our Lady of the Angels in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., and St. Cyril's Church in Alexandria Bay, N.Y., where she made joyful noise with her friends in the choir—even once singing for Pope Benedict XVI at the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo.
   Martha’s life was certainly magic but also part tragic. Despite the heartbreaks, she never lost her grace and resiliency. This was due in large part to her lifelong commitment to her Catholic faith. She was a two-time breast cancer survivor that once celebrated her fight by becoming a top fundraiser for the 36-mile Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk in Washington, D.C., in 2009—even finishing the three-day walk a day early. Above all, Martha loved deeply and gave generously, a combination that earned her many friends of all ages. She had the gift of truly listening and became a trusted confidante and wise advisor to many close friends, but it was her warmth, humor, and unmistakable energy that made her the kind of person people were lucky to call a best friend.
   Her greatest love, however, was reserved for her husband and family. She loved her grandchildren fiercely, adored her daughter and step-daughter, and shared a special bond with her much-loved son-in-law. In true Martha fashion, she never missed an opportunity to remind him that she was his “favorite mother-in-law”—a title she proudly owned by signing her notes to him “YFMIL.” Martha lived fully, laughed loudly, and will be missed by all who had the pleasure of sharing a cocktail, a meal, or a fast ride with her.
   Along with her husband, James, Martha is survived by her daughter, Sarah C. Yaussi and husband Ian H. Pienik, Largo, FL, and step-daughter Kathleen A. O'Donnell, Burlington, VT; grandchildren Brian Aleksi Pienik, Max Lawrence Pienik, and Pika Eva Grace Pienik; sister Gretchen Hedge Ellis, Omaha, NE; niece Jane Agan, Omaha, NE, and a number of beloved cousins. She was predeceased by her parents; son Brian J. Yaussi, October 21, 2000; brother John R. Hedge II in 1954; and nephew Thomas B. Ellis, March 8, 2025.
   Calling hours will be held at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Clayton on Wednesday, August 5, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, August 6, at 1:00 pm at St. Cyril's Church, Alexandria Bay. Arrangements are entrusted with Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Watertown and online condolences to Martha's family may be posted at www.cummingsfuneral.com. Donations in her name may be sent to the 1000 Islands Art Center, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, or the North Country Community Foundation.