Martha Chávez (Wiggins), age 95, of Palm Coast, Florida, passed away peacefully on December 7, 2025. Born on August 9, 1930, in Managua, Nicaragua, Martha lived a life marked by extraordinary resilience, faith, courage, and devotion to her family.

Martha was the daughter of Maximilian and Olga Dreher, and one of twelve siblings. Six of the Dreher children were born in Managua before the family relocated to Swiefalten, Germany, the birthplace of her father. Six more children were born in that small German village before the family returned to Nicaragua in the years after World War II. It was during this period in Managua that Martha met and married Dr. Ignacio Chávez, the father of her children.

In 1996, Martha married Richard Wiggins, with whom she shared twenty years of deep friendship, companionship, and mutual support. Their bond brought comfort and joy throughout their later years.

Throughout her long life, Martha witnessed, and endured, some of the most turbulent chapters of the 20th century. As a young girl in Germany, she survived the hardships of World War II, later returning to Nicaragua only to face the devastation of the 1972 Managua earthquake, which claimed more than 10,000 lives. In 1978, as civil unrest and a communist uprising overtook the country, Martha and Ignacio made the difficult decision to uproot the family and seek safety and a new beginning in the United States.

During that turbulent period, Martha demonstrated remarkable bravery. When communist insurgents arrived at the home demanding belongings such as cars and furniture, she confronted them with unwavering courage and dignity. Her strength in those moments revealed her fierce determination to protect her family and her refusal to be intimidated.

Despite the adversities she faced, Martha never allowed hardship to harden her heart. She often joked, "Life is hard and then you die," a phrase that sounded stark but belied her true spirit: Martha believed deeply in perseverance, in making the best of what life offers, and in finding solutions where others saw only problems. Her humor, resilience, and resourcefulness sustained her and shaped the lives of those around her.

In Nicaragua, Martha volunteered alongside the Catholic nuns, dedicating her time and compassion to helping those in need. Her generosity extended far beyond her own family, and her faith guided much of her life.

She was gifted in many ways. Martha could turn "a set of twigs" into a thriving garden, transforming even small spaces into botanical sanctuaries. She was also an extraordinary cook, famous for saying, "You never need a recipe as long as you put your heart into what you're cooking." Her kitchen was a warm, welcoming place where delicious meals brought everyone together, including her legendary "Oma French Fries," a simple dish made with love that became a treasured family favorite. Martha cooked with her heart and soul and everyone who tasted her food felt cared for.

Martha leaves behind a legacy of strength, humor, love, and unwavering devotion to family. Her life was marked by perseverance, faith, and the ability to rebuild, time and again, with grace and courage. She will be deeply missed by her children, grandchildren, extended family, and all who had the privilege of knowing her.

She is preceded in death by her first husband of 42 years, Ignacio Chavez and her second husband of 20 years, Richard Wiggins. She is also preceded in death by several of her siblings. She is survived by three of her siblings, Franz, Gilbert and Isabel, her beloved children Emil Reinhold (Barbara), Albrecht Wunibald (Connie), and Waltdtraut Alice (Stan).

She leaves behind six cherished grandchildren: Alicia, Stephanie, and David from Emil's family, and Demitra, Joseph, and Christopher from Albrecht's family. She was also a great grandmother to Jonathan Bousquet (Stephanie) and Jason Williams (Alicia). To all of them she was affectionately known as "Oma," and to her children, she was "Mamita."

May her memory be Eternal.