Waterford - Martha Anne Flynt Bouffard-Maruzo, 75, of Waterford and Ocean City, Md., passed away peacefully at her home in Maryland on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer, in the arms of her children.

Born on Aug. 13, 1933, in Manchester, Maine, she was the daughter of the late H. Karl Flynt and Florence Blanche Flynt.

Martha “Marty” lived in Manchester, Maine, until after high school when she moved to join her family in Hartford. She met her late husband of 50 years, Roland J. Bouffard, whom she married on May 19, 1956, and began a family, owned a thriving business and was friends to so many.

Martha joined her husband's dream of owning a restaurant after visiting the Connecticut shores for several years and purchasing a roadside clam bar known as Unk's in 1963. This became a lifelong journey for both Martha and Roland. The little clam shack that was a summer seasonal restaurant serving the best in fried seafood began to grow into a large, full-menu family restaurant. She had her husband and eventually her children by her side through the 44 years of ownership.

Martha and Roland spent many vacations returning to a family home in Maine during the fall, enjoying their travels to Las Vegas and a few Caribbean cruises. Martha had a passion for romance novels. They occasionally took trips in their privately owned Piper Cherokee airplane; this was Roland's passion, not Martha's.

After her husband passed away and the business sold, she eventually married, in 2007, Joseph J. Maruzo of Ocean City, Md.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a sister, Estella Ladner of Melborne, Fla.; children, Suzanne Bouffard-Mahon and her husband, Gerald of Waterford, Linda Bouffard-Mullen and her husband, Jeff of Old Lyme, David Bouffard and John Kamishlian of Waterford; grandchildren, Daniel and Matthew Mahon, Ashley, Kayla, Lindsay and Raina Mullen, John Paul and Melissa Kamishlian and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and first husband, she was also preceded in death by two grandchildren, Elise Mahon and Krista Mullen.

A memorial service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 10 Huntington St., New London.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that contributions be made to Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut, 227 Dunham St., Norwich, CT 06360; and/or New London Community Meal Center, Montauk Avenue, New London, CT 06320.

Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, PA, 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD 21804. Please visit www.hollowayfh.com to express condolences to the family.

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