Dolores Martinez

Dolores Martinez was a truly bright and charismatic woman with a deep commitment to her family. She was a loving and caring mother that derived endless joy from watching her family grow and succeed. Dolores led a simple and dignified life, filled with the family and friends who brought her life joy. The year 1928 was the calm before the storm. The nation was astounded by the exploits of Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, and George Eastman had just produced the first motion picture. Charles Tetlock, a coal miner, and his wife, Josephine (Naciejewicz), were content with their life in Taylor, Pennsylvania. Already the proud parents of three daughters, Irene, Eleanor and Evelyn, on September 20, 1928, they delighted in welcoming the birth of their fourth daughter, who they named Dolores Kamela. Dolores led a typical childhood of the times. Her family was proud of their Polish Catholic heritage and was active in their church. Dolores attended the West Scranton area schools, and after graduating with the class of 1946, she moved to Harrison, New Jersey, where she started a fulfilling career as a secretary at the Worthington Company. A real social butterfly, Dolores liked the thrill of the big city and often went into New York on the weekends for some fun with friends. Life was going good for Dolores. She was in her early 20s and engaged, but one day life took an unexpected turn when she met Manuel Marty Martinez, an executive at Worthington. Because of company policy, the two had to secretly date, but as fate would have it, they fell in love and were happily married on June 6, 1953. Not long after saying I do, Marty became the President of the Studebaker-Worthington Corporation of Mexico City, and the newlyweds soon moved for his job. To fit into their new surroundings, Dolores learned to speak Spanish fluently. It was also while living in Mexico that the couple welcomed the births of their three children: Manuel (1955), Kristina (1957), and Carlos (1962). Dolores loved being a mother and homemaker, and was always very involved in her kids schooling and other activities. She was also an excellent cook and could masterfully make all the traditional recipes from her parents and Martys too. Being an executives wife, Dolores enjoyed an active social life with the other wives, even more than that she loved to play Bridge, which she was quite good at. In 1965, Marty once again moved up in the company and became the President of Worthington in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Naturally, the family all moved here, and lived a rather lavish life for the next few years with limo drivers and housekeepers. However, with the up rise of political unrest, Marty wanted to keep his family safe, so he took a new position at Clarke Floor Machine, a division of Worthington back in Muskegon, Michigan. They soon settled into a home in Norton Shores, and began attending St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. It didnt take them long to make lots of new friends in their community either. They enjoyed weekend parties, progressive dinners and Dolores joined in a Bridge Club too. Marty traveled a lot for his work, but Dolores kept the house running smoothly and the children cared for. Time together as a family was important too, and they enjoyed many unforgettable vacations over the years to the Island of Barbados in the West Indies. After Marty retired, he and Dolores moved to Lakeland, Florida and attended St. Anthonys Catholic Church here. They also began to travel more extensively, taking cruises, visiting their friends in various countries and taking their family back to Barbados. Dolores and Marty also took trips back to Muskegon and visited family in Niagara Falls. Somewhere along the way, Dolores found she really liked pressing her luck at those one-armed bandits at the casinos, so it was only natural the couple went to Las Vegas a few times. At home, Dolores poured her love and attention into being a doting grandmother to her granddaughter, Sena. In her quieter moments, she enjoyed reading, particularly mysteries, and being creative as an artist. She loved oil painting but also made charcoal drawings. Over the years, Dolores had suffered with pain from rheumatoid arthritis, though she never let it keep her from living a full life. When her husband Marty was diagnosed with bladder cancer, she tenderly cared for him until his passing in 2009. It was hard being alone after 56 years, but Dolores was able to remain independent with the help of her family, especially her son, Carlos. She and Carlos even made one last visit to Las Vegas for some gambling fun together. Several weeks ago, Dolores fell and injured her back. Because of this, her health quickly began to decline and she passed away on Thursday, November 3, 2011, in Lakeland, Florida. Dolores is survived by her sons, Manuel (Michel) Martinez of NV, Carlos (Kim) Martinez of FL; her daughter, Kristina (Randy) Precious; granddaughter, Sena Precious; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Services will be held on Saturday, November 12, at 11:00 a.m. and visitation 1 hour prior to the service at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with Rev. Dr. Thomas C.H. Scott officiating. Interment at Laketon Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Youth Ministry. Please visit Doloress personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave, where you may sign her online guest book and share a memory with her family. Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon