Deena Martel

Deena Louise Martel, 51, passed away peacefully on March 23, 2014 in her sleep at her home in Vaughn.Her memorial service will be held at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel on March 28, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Schnider funeral home is handling arrangements.Deena was born on June 29, 1962 in Bismarck, North Dakota to Anton and Harriet Heinert. In 1969 she moved to Vaughn where she attended Vaughn Elementary and later graduated high school from Simms, MT in 1981. Growing up, Deena enjoyed barrel racing horses, competing in the Vaughn rodeo and raising her favorite horse, Bonnie .In October of 1981, Deena was blessed with a beautiful daughter, Nicole Elizabeth (Ewen) Dennis. In 1983, she married Robert Ewen of Fort Shaw, MT. They later divorced.On January 27, 1989 Deena married the love of her life, Terry Martel of Vaughn. Together, they had a wonderful son, Terrence Joseph Martel in March of that year.Deena worked several jobs over the years in the Great Falls and surrounding area to include working for the Great Falls Transit Authority, paralegal work, serving as manager for Applebees and as a casino attendant in Vaughn. She also was a volleyball coach for Vaughn Elementary School for two years. One of Deena`s biggest passions was being an advocate for the fight against breast cancer, attending cancer walks and supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation.Deena had a tremendous love for her family and was very proud to call herself a grandmother to the two most precious joys of her life, her grandsons, Theo and Link. Deena absolutely adored her grandsons and loved to spend time with her two boys, and enjoyed sharing stories of them with everyone she knew.Survivors include her husband of 25 years, Terry Martel of Vaughn; her daughter, Nicole (Trey) Dennis and son, Terrence Martel of Great Falls; her father, Anton Heinert of Vaughn; sisters Denise (Bill) Bury, Debra (Jim) Thoroughman of Great Falls; brother Samuel (Diana) Heinert of Vaughn; father and mother-in-law Joe and Mary Martel of Vaughn; sister-in-law Teresa (Tim) Rambo of Great Falls; brother-in-law Tim Hawthorne of Colstrip; grandsons Theo LeLievre and Link Dennis of Great Falls.She was preceded in death by her mother, Harriet Heinert; grandparents Ernest and Buryl Doehle and Roy and Clara Heinert; and a brother-in-law, Joey Martel.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Deena's name to Relay for Life, 1903 Central Ave, Billings, MT 59402.