Martina Scarfia
Friday, March 20, 1998 - Sunday, May 14, 2023

Martina died as she lived: pursuing her passions. Martina was well known for putting all of her heart into fulfilling her dreams and using her talents and gifts to the full. Although most of you now reading this have heard of her tragic surfing incident, not all of you had the opportunity to know Martina, to enjoy her talents, or to benefit from her gifts.

Martina was a gifted writer, from serious drama to absolute hilarity. She was a compassionate and self-sacrificing caregiver. She had a beautiful singing voice with an impressive range and control. Martina learned sign language at the age of 16 to help the deaf spiritually. Martina was known by many friends and family for her discernment, wisdom, and comprehensive understanding of the “hallway of consequences”. She was a friend to those who struggled with friendship. She was also well known as an enthusiastic “adrenaline junkie” who, in her short life, traveled to three different continents. Her favorite spot in the world was the Cliffs of Moher on the west coast of Ireland, which she has chosen as her resting place until Paradise.

Martina was passionate about being a licensed doula, an organ donor, and an animal lover — especially snakes and her dogs. By the age of 13, she had made up her mind to become a nurse with the ultimate aim of disaster relief. She was accepted into nursing school and began the RN program at College of the Redwoods in the fall of 2021. While attending nursing school Martina continued her full-time, volunteer ministry which she had begun in 2019. Although having serious educational challenges due to significant ADHD, she graduated from nursing school with honors on May 13, 2023, having also completed a Preceptor program in the ED.

Martina is survived by her parents Larry and Anita Scarfia and her dogs Clara ‘Oswin’ Oswald and ‘Raven’ Roberta Jones. She is also survived by her biological siblings Asia Scarfia-Ward, Shauna Johnson, and Aaron Scarfia; her brother-in-law Randy Ward; her siblings of the heart Chenoa Cantua, Amanda Betts, Kara Roberts, and Don Roberts; and her grandparents Howard and Martha Hughes, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and cousins — both biological and of the heart.

A Memorial Service is being held for her Saturday, June 10 at 3 p.m. at the Mckinleyville Middle School Gym, 2285 Central Ave, McKinleyville. All are invited. Martina’s beloved friend, Alyssa Lea, has set up a GoFundMe that will assist with Martina’s end-of-life wishes. The GoFundMe will also be used to help establish the Martina Scarfia Scholarship for Nursing, as her legacy to assist other promising nursing students with personal challenges. Please use this link if you wish to donate to this fund.

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