lit a candle 11h ago83 years old. That's a good long run, but it doesn't make it easier on the family. Praying for Jennifer and Paige as they say goodbye to their mom.
Their story
Martha Lynne "Marti" Milne, who was known throughout the Collingswood and Haddonfield area of New Jersey for the small shop she ran for more than two decades, died on October 27, 2026, at the age of 83, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born Martha Lynne Counselman…
Martha Lynne "Marti" Milne, who was known throughout the Collingswood and Haddonfield area of New Jersey for the small shop she ran for more than two decades, died on October 27, 2026, at the age of 83, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
She was born Martha Lynne Counselman and grew up in Haddonfield, New Jersey, later moving to Cherry Hill before settling in Collingswood, where she lived for much of her adult life. For more than 25 years she owned and ran The Whistle Stop, a shop in nearby Lindenwold where she made floral arrangements for homes and weddings and taught arts and crafts classes to children. The shop became a neighborhood fixture, and Milne was remembered by those who knew her as someone who found genuine joy in that work.
Outside the shop, Milne was active in her community and her church. She served for years as a member and secretary of the Haddonfield United Methodist Church, and she belonged to the Red Hat Society, a social organization for women, through which she took part in outings with friends. She also volunteered her time at Collingswood Manor, a senior living community, where she taught crafts to residents and helped organize attic sales to benefit them.
Milne was the widow of Richard Milne, who predeceased her. She was the mother of two daughters, Jennifer Buccino and Paige Rainey, and the sister of George Counselman. She was also a stepmother to Alexis Osborn and Ethel Harrison, and she was survived by several grandchildren and step-grandchildren. Her parents, George and Emma Counselman, predeceased her.
News of her death was shared through an obituary published by Kain-Murphy Funeral Services of Haddonfield, which described a woman devoted to her family, her church and her community, and whose final years were marked by a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. A visitation and funeral service are planned for her family and friends, followed by burial, and tributes from those who knew her in Collingswood and Lindenwold have focused on her warmth, her creativity, and the small kindnesses she offered as both a shopkeeper and a volunteer.
Biography adapted from News reports and the sources cited on this page; death reported by The Retrospect.
Agreed, Alzheimer's takes so long to say goodbye. Prayers for them.