Obituary of Christen Leigh Martin

Christen Leigh (Gaito) Martin, a woman filled with compassion, kindness, and love passed away after a yearlong battle with cancer on Thursday night, May 4, 2023.  She was just 51 years old.  Christen was born in Winchester and grew up in Burlington.  She was a member of Burlington High Schools Class of 1990.  She met her future husband, Jim Martin, in high school but they didn’t start dating until two years later in 1992.  They married in 1994 and lived for a few years in Salem, NH before returning to Burlington to raise their two daughters, Nicolette and Kristina.  Everyone who met Christen always talked about her radiant smile and ability to light up every room she walked into.  Her caring and supportive nature was seen at home and at work.  She was an executive assistant/office manager at Limelight Networks in their Burlington office. She was the glue that kept order in the office, supported her coworkers, and was always the warm and welcoming face people saw in the morning.

Christen always placed her family and friends first.  She was the devoted wife to her husband Jim for 28 ½ years.  They evolved together from stary eyed young adults, loving parents, and remained best friends.  She was all in as a mother.  Her girls were the center of her universe. She was their role model, adviser, confidant, care giver, and best friend.  She was there to celebrate their accomplishments, support them in their missteps, and encourage them to be the best version of themselves.  They loved “Girl days” that included shopping trips, lunches or dinners, spa treatments, beach trips, and numerous other adventures.  She had an incredible bond with her grandmother, Josephine DeLeo, who passed last year.  There were countless vacations to Disney World, Venice Florida to visit her in-laws, and Siesta Key Beach.  Christen also had a wonderful circle of friends whom she loved to spend time with, share adventures, and laugh.  Her backyard and pool were a favorite summer destination of hers for family and friends.  She loved being active and loved spending time working out at Lifetime Fitness, on her Peloton, or walking outside in the sunshine.

Christen fought her hardest to overcome cancer.  She didn’t want to leave her husband, daughters, family, and friends so soon, but she leaves them all with many special memories and stories that will keep memory and spirit alive in all their hearts forever.  She will be sadly missed, but never forgotten. 

Christen was the beloved wife of James “Jim” Martin.  She was the loving mother of Nicolette and Kristina Martin both of Burlington.  She was the daughter of Delores Lanzo & her husband William of Tewksbury and Joseph Gaito & his wife Grace of Ossining, NY.  She was the sister of Mark Gaito of Burlington.  She was the daughter-in-law of Jan & Jean Martin of Venice Florida and sister-in law of Deborah Canning of Coventry, RI and Doug Martin of Rochester, MN.  Christen was also survived by many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. 

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington, on Wednesday, May 10 from 4-7pm.  Funeral from the funeral home on Thursday, May 11 at 9am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Margaret Church, in St Veronica Parish, www.stveronicama.org, 111 Winn St., Burlington, at 10am.  The burial will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

For online guestbook and video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net