Lynn F. Martin passed peacefully, enveloped in the loving arms of her beloved youngest daughter, Amy, while holding her hand. Amy was with her every step of the way these past few years, until Lynn gained her Angel wings and her soul was finally set free to begin her next beautiful journey Home.
Shortly after Lynn passed, a beautiful rainbow appeared ~ a luminous bridge between Heaven and Earth, a Sacred and humbling welcome for such a radiant soul. We believe she was greeted by angels and loved ones who went before her, celebrating her return and the love and light she shared so freely.
Lynn~ a gifted master artist, teacher, and devoted matriarch~ spent her life creating beauty and imparting wisdom and love to everyone she encountered. Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, she graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1963. After graduating, she married, began a family, and embraced motherhood with profound love and unwavering devotion.
A woman of immense creativity and independence, Lynn owned and operated Seraphim Stained Glass Studio in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, for over four decades out of her beloved 300+ year-old farmhouse~ a kindred home she treasured deeply, where she created Sacred space for all who had the honor to enter. Through her artistry, she not only loved and supported her family but shared her creative vision generously with her community.
For nearly fifty years, Lynn created luminous works of art and taught countless students the Sacred artistry of stained glass and in her final later years in Florida, crushed-glass resin art. All her masterpieces did so much more than just catch the light~ they revealed it. Her life was a living breathing testament to her deep faith, love, and healing, inspiring others to reach for the stars and embrace their soul’s greatness and God-given gifts until her final breath.
In 1976, Lynn took a stained-glass class while she and her family were living in Virginia and immediately fell in love. Shortly after moving to Rhode Island, she began frequenting the local stained glass studio, often purchasing supplies to experiment at home. The studio owner took notice and generously invited Lynn to apprentice, allowing her to master the craft of stained glass she loved. Shortly thereafter, she began assisting professionally with repairs, creating beautiful stained glass windows, and teaching classes at The Stained Glass (Kierco) Studio in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Lynn worked there for two years before taking a leap of faith to open her own business in her home, fondly known to many as Seraphim Stained Glass Studio, from 1978–2019.
For many years, Lynn created custom stained-glass windows and taught seven classes a week to beloved students, many of whom stayed with her for 25+ years. In the early days, she participated in the Wickford Art Festival and Mystic Art Festival. She also taught stained glass classes through the North Kingstown Adult Education Program, The Learning Connection, and North Kingstown’s Take An Arts Break program through the NK Arts Council. Lynn was also a featured artist for the last six years of her career at the West Bay Open Studio Tour.
Lynn was honored to have had many commissions throughout the years, including designing work for General Electric and the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, the Navy bases in Newport, RI, and Groton, CT, among many others. Her beautiful artwork can be found throughout the state, including but not limited to: Saints Rose and Clements Parish Chapel, Warwick, RI; Cranston-Murphy Funeral Home, Wickford, RI; Davisville Middle School, North Kingstown, RI; Exeter Middle School, Exeter RI; Providence Country Day School, Providence, RI; Emanuel Lutheran Church, West Warwick, RI; Quidnessett Baptist Church, North Kingstown, RI; Cranston Veterinary Hospital, Cranston, RI; Newport War College; Newport Naval Base, Newport, RI; and The Adult Correctional Institute Chapel in Cranston, RI, created in honor of Rev. Marsue Harris’s retirement. She also created many other works for local businesses and private homes throughout the years.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Lynn co-led Greenwood Presbyterian Church’s youth group with her former husband. Throughout the mid- to late-1980s, she and her family became parishioners of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Wickford, Rhode Island, where Lynn later facilitated a weekly women’s Bible study group and often participated in other church events and spiritual retreats. During those formative years into the early 1990s, Lynn also volunteered monthly overnight at the Peacedale Homeless Shelter alongside Ted Seymour, founder of South County’s Habitat For Humanity.
Lynn began expanding her wings and she went on to complete a three-year Spiritual Direction Leadership Program Intensive through Our Lady of Peace in Narragansett, Rhode Island, where she continued that connection with that spiritual community for many years. Her spirituality was never performative~ it was embodied. Guided by unshakable faith and trust in God, she became an angel and guide to many along the way.
In 2019, believing she was ready to retire, Lynn moved to Ponte Vedra, Florida, with her youngest daughter, Amy. Retirement did not quiet her creative spirit; it opened a new chapter. Together, they co-created Gifts from the Sea, crafting beautiful resin art from crushed glass using seashells gathered along the shores of St. Augustine. They taught classes and sold their artwork at Coconut Barrel ~ The Artisan Market, as well as at pop-up markets including the Ponte Vedra Friday Market and the YMCA Art Markets in Nocatee, becoming highly recognized, sought out and revered in their local artisan community within a very short time.
Lynn’s hands never stopped creating; her heart never stopped loving. Beyond her professional accomplishments, her greatest legacy was her family. She was the devoted and unconditionally loving mother of Amy and Christine, guiding them with profound love and shaping them into the women they are today.
Lynn’s influence extended deeply into the lives of her beloved grandchildren, Michael and Kayla. Being a grandmother was one of Lynn’s greatest joys. She played a pivotal role in shaping their childhoods, gently instilling integrity, character, strength, and an unbendable moral foundation that will continue to reverberate for generations. Over the past two years, Kayla’s virtual work allowed her to spend part-time in Florida, helping Amy lovingly care for Lynn in her final years, while both grandchildren spoke with her nearly every day, reflecting the deep love and enduring connection they shared.
Lynn possessed a rare and radiant presence. Even those who met her briefly sensed her enormous heart, creative spirit, and innate spiritual wisdom. When she wasn’t creating or with family, she loved playing games~ Canasta, Samba, Triple Play, Mexican Train, and Rummikub with friends in her community ~ Lynn was also a natural storyteller and spiritual guide, leaving lasting insight with every person she encountered.
Lynn is survived by her beloved daughters, Amy B. Martin of Ponte Vedra, Florida, and Christine Martin Gulec of Waterford, Connecticut; her grandchildren, Michael Adam Gulec of Warwick, Rhode Island, and Kayla C. Gulec of East Haven, Connecticut; and her younger brother, F. Scott Fowler, and his wife Monica of Ponte Vedra, Florida.
Lynn also leaves behind dear family friends whom she lovingly nurtured when they were children as if they were her own: Janet Beth Buchanan and family of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, and her younger sister, Gindy (Buchanan) Puglisi of Ball Ground, Georgia. Janet and Gindy often endearingly referred to Lynn as their second mother, a bond that has extended well into their current years of adulthood.
Knowing that Lynn had always longed for a large, close-knit family to share love, connection, and even vacations with, true to her huge heart~Janet along with her partner Donna Doyle welcomed Lynn and Amy into their family with open arms, helping fulfill some of Lynn’s final wishes over the last two years.
These treasured experiences included, but were not limited to, a beautiful Caribbean cruise with Janet; several vacations with Janet and Donna’s family including the Florida Keys; a summer trip to a lake house in Maine; two visits to their beautiful beach home in East Matunuck, Rhode Island; and many other heart-filled gatherings in Rhode Island, too many to name, before the move to Florida.
The final joyful memories together were lovingly created just weeks before Lynn’s passing while she was still able~ a beautiful 2½ days at St. Augustine Beach at the end of January~ surrounded by Janet and Donna’s family and the quiet beauty of the ocean.
Lynn was deeply loved and sought out by many, and her family is deeply and eternally grateful to everyone who heard and honored Lynn’s final wishes for the space and time to rest after the New Year. Lynn never wanted anyone to feel “shut out”; she was simply doing everything humanly possible to save her strength and energy to finally experience her greatest dreams and one last final memory mid-February~ a would be first time-ever vacation with her beloved family~ Amy, Kayla, Michael, and her daughter, Christine. This was even more special and important to Lynn and her family because it would have not only been the very first family vacation they had ever taken all together, but Lynn also intuitively knew it would be the very last time she would see them.
At the end of January, Janet and her family visited for a beautiful heart-filled weekend. Though by that time hospice had Lynn on strict bed rest so she could conserve her strength for the family’s February trip, Lynn pushed herself and used every ounce of energy she had to show up for two and a half days to create a few more precious final memories with Janet and her family. Over the years, Janet had made many of these special moments possible, filling in the gaps where they weren’t able to, and for that our family will always be deeply grateful.
That final effort sadly left Lynn greatly weakened, and she never fully regained the strength and energy she had hoped for to fulfill her greatest final wish~ to experience a similar fun filled family vacation with her family~ Amy, Christine, Michael, and Kayla~ just 3.5 weeks later.
In her final days, Lynn often spoke of her sadness at no longer having any strength or energy left to get out of bed or fully enjoy the family’s last days together, yet her boundless love and determination for her family never wavered.
Though things were not what Lynn had envisioned, she remained determined that the family still go. With the help of her amazing hospice team, setting her up at the hotel so the family could keep her more comfortable, one final deeply solemn memory was created together~ a family gift by the sea~ just not in the way Lynn and her family had hoped and prayed for.
Even in her last moments, Lynn made the very best of a very difficult time and continued giving all she could to those she cherished. Lynn’s kind, loving spirit and heart became a lasting reflection of her life~ a legacy of beauty, love, devotion, generosity of spirit, and grace that will be treasured for many teats to come by all who knew her.
The family also extends heartfelt gratitude to Lynn’s primary care physicians, Dr. Casey Bonaquist, DO, and Dr. Robert Kawa, DO, of Baptist HealthPlace at Nocatee; Dr. Dawn Mussallem, DO, integrative health specialist at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville Florida, Peter Morgan, retired chaplain and now receptionist at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville; spiritual director Joy Jennings of Bristol, Rhode Island; spiritual healer and dear friend Laurie McCracken of Costa Rica; and Northeast Florida Community Hospice, especially Nurse Haley. This Divine Team supported Lynn and Amy throughout this sacred journey, providing tender, loving care that allowed Lynn to transition with comfort, dignity, peace, and grace.
We also thank Lynn’s many beloved students and friends~ far too many to name~ who shared heartfelt stories and expressions of love up until her final breath, including Jane Ellis, Mindy Cimmarrusti, Cindy Carolini, Milt & Barbara Bauer, Nancy Seal, Shantel Rose, and her brother F. Scott Fowler and his wife Monica. Each played a significant role in supporting Lynn and Amy and helping Lynn transition with as much dignity and peacefulness as possible in her final days, while not only lightening the physical responsibilities for Amy but also offering the deep emotional support needed to get through this very difficult and heavy time.
Information on a Celebration of Life service in loving memory of Lynn will be announced at a much later date, as the family takes the much needed time needed to heal and to grieve the profound loss of such a luminous light in their lives.
You’ve earned your Heavenly wings, Momma, and I know the Angels are dancing and singing with you as your sweet soul finally soars untethered and free…
🎶💛🕊️💫✨🎶
…Sail on, silver girl.
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine…
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your local art program to nurture creativity in your community, continuing the light and inspiration Lynn so generously shared or to Northeast Florida Community Hospice: https://thefoundationcares.org/give
