Martha S. Istvan

Martha S. Istvan, 94, of Barrington, IL passed away peacefully on March 7, 2026. She was born December 11, 1931 on a farm in rural Berlin Heights, OH. A private family celebration of life will be held.

Born on a farm in rural Berlin Heights, Ohio 94 years ago, Martha was the seventh child of Christina and Michael Sekerak. As the youngest of seven, she long survived all her siblings and became the family matriarch and beloved “Aunt Marty” to many nieces, nephews and their children.

Education was very important to Martha. She received her Bachelor degree at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, her Master of Arts degree at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and studied French in Paris, France.

Martha was awarded an overseas trip from an essay contest in 1949 sponsored by the Cleveland Press that changed her life. As a result, she chose to travel to and study in Czechoslovakia, homeland of her parents and grandparents. Once there she realized the Carpathian dialect her family spoke at home was far removed from the Czech language she encountered. For the rest of her life, Martha advocated cultural exchange and awareness of her Carpatho-Rusyn heritage.

She continued to encourage others to travel internationally becoming more involved with The Experiment in International Living. Martha was instrumental in establishing the Lines American French Exchange Program through Lines School in Barrington and coordinated host Barrington families to match with international students, including hosting many international exchange students and teachers.

Martha had a passion and a gift for learning languages. She spoke at least six languages and would always strike up conversations in other languages if she detected a hint of another nationality with anyone she encountered. Her real love was anything French and was often assumed to be a native French speaker. She went on to teach French part-time at Harper College in Palatine.

Martha’s husband, Donald Istvan, predeceased her in death in 2001 after 46 years of marriage. They had met at John Marshall High School in Cleveland, OH where they were both honor students. They went on to live in Ohio, New York, Indiana then raising their children in Park Ridge, IL and Barrington Hills, IL. Martha also lived more recently in Medford, NJ, the Villages, FL then back to Barrington, IL.

Martha had and is survived by three children: Jay Istvan (Vicki Casmere) of Barrington, IL, Kristin (Robert) Tarnofsky of Long Beach, CA and Karina Istvan (Alan Sharp) of Pennsauken, NJ. Her five grandchildren, Nicholas Tarnofsky, Scott Istvan, Lauren Tarnofsky, Brooke Istvan and Gabrielle Sharp, all went on to travel and study internationally as well.

She was very much an animal lover, stopping to greet any she may pass along the way. Her pets over the years included many dogs, not to mention the numerous other birds, gerbils, cats and horses she befriended or adopted over the course of her 94 years.

She is survived by her three children, Jay Istvan (Vicki Casmere) of Barrington, IL, Kristin (Robert) Tarnofsky of Long Beach, CA and Karina Istvan (Alan Sharp) of Pennsauken, NJ and five grandchildren, Nicholas Tarnofsky, Scott Istvan, Lauren Tarnofsky, Brooke Istvan and Gabrielle Sharp.

She was predeceased in death by her husband of over 46 years, Donald F. Istvan, her parents Christina Sekerak and Michael P. Sekerak, and her siblings Mary Kosmider, Ann Bobinsky, John Sekerak, Michael Sekerak, Nicholas Sekerak, and Joseph Sekerak.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Carpatho-Rusyn Society that seeks to preserve the distinct linguistic, genealogical and cultural awareness of Carpatho-Rusyn ancestry at C-RS.org and to the Heifer Foundation at Fundraise.Heifer.org/MarthaIstvan.