Paulette Hanke Martin

Paulette Hanke Martin, 66, of Canonsburg passed away peacefully on Friday, December 26, 2025. She was born on January 3, 1959, in Columbus, Ohio, to the late William and Carole Hanke. Paulette was a loving and beloved mother and grandmother to her son, Zachary Martin and her grandson, Bodhi. She spent the last 12 years with her loving partner, Mark who was by her side until her passing.

Paulette graduated from Washington High School in 1977 and Robert Morris University in

1979. She worked as a medical transcriptionist for 25 years for various healthcare institutions and doctors, including the Washington Hospital. Later in life, she turned her passion for animals into a profession and worked for animal care facilities like the Washington Humane Society and Nemacolin Wooflands. Her final profession incorporated another passion, caring for the elderly, and she worked for multiple senior care facilities.

Paulette was a voracious reader, practiced cross-stitching, loved animals, and enjoyed watching Pittsburgh sports, especially the Pirates.

During the final two years of her life, she bravely battled cancer every single day until sudden complications caused her to pass peacefully Friday evening.

She was loving, passionate, thoughtful, reserved, and a wonderful person to all those she called friends and family. She is forever irreplicable and irreplaceable.

She is survived by her son, Zachary Martin (Nicole Maust); her grandson, Bodhi Lee Arthur Martin; her longtime partner, Mark Nixon and their cat Nathan; 3 siblings: Chris Hanke (Kelly), Mike Hanke (Josey), and Mary Carole Hanke, and several nieces and nephews.

A private memorial service will be held. Reach out to the family if you would like service information. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Washington Area Humane Society.