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Marta Martinez

July 4, 2021

ENGLISH After 101-plus years of a life well lived, Marta passed away peacefully on the 4th of July after a brief hospital stay. She passed away knowing she was loved by many and after touching hundreds of lives with her spirit, courage, kindness and wisdom. Marta was born in Cumanayagua, Las Villas, Cuba. She lived there until the family moved to Camagüey in the late 1930s. In Camaguey, she got married, worked as a teacher, raised a family and supported Cuba’s struggle for freedom until 1980 when she emigrated to the city of Paterson in New Jersey with her late husband Henry. Paterson was her happy home until her passing. She worked as a school teacher at several levels until 1968, when the Castro regime fired her for being married to a Political Prisoner and not having the proper “Revolutionary Values” that supported Fidel’s oppressive regime. She was then assigned to work as a parts clerk at a transportation maintenance facility until her departure to America. Once settled in Paterson New Jersey, Marta and her husband Henry worked at the old Keystone Camera factory in Getty Avenue close the Paterson-Clifton border until 1985, when she retired as a result of poor health. After retirement, she kept busy helping with the grandchildren and taking care of family and friends whenever they needed her. Like many from her generation, Marta had a rich, unequally challenging and rewarding life. She outlived poverty, sickness, political persecution, exile and depression, all the time upholding her values, beliefs, civility, humanity and compassion. Throughout her many trials, Marta was surrounded by family, friends and acquaintances that loved, admired and respected the frankness, integrity, honesty and courage that she lived by. Marta was a loving mother, teacher, mentor and friend to many, but mostly, she was a warrior and a survivor with unparalleled resiliency, who fought for her family in every facet of life. She was known for her wit, candor, sense of fashion, assertiveness and vision, which helped shape the lives of several family generations. She loved the United States and defended her adoptive country fiercely, but she missed her native Cuba daily and constantly cursed the Communist regime that make its people suffer without pause. Marta is the last of her generation to pass away. She is pre-deceased by Henry (Kin), her husband of over 52 years and all her parents Alejandro Peña and Alejandrina, her siblings, Epifania, Josefa, Alejandro and Jorge. She leaves behind two sons, Henry and Jorge and their families. Henry lives in Miami, Florida with his wife Nancy (nee Perez), daughters Annya and Kenia, their respective spouses Fernando and Alexander along with Annya’s children Fernando and Manuel and Kenia’s sons Alexander and Lucas. Jorge lives in Bloomfield, New Jersey with Esther (nee Zayas), and his children Jorge Luis, Natalie and Andres also live in New Jersey. Jorge Luis, his wife Andrea (nee Biele) and children Gabriella and Alejandro live in Manalapan, Natalie Polanco (nee Martinez), her husband Henry and sons Rafael and Marcos live in Union, and Andres lives in Roselle. Marta also has a great extended family of nieces, nephews, godchildren and innumerable friends throughout Cuba, the United States, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Spain. Visitation will be at the Scillieri-Arnold Funeral Home, 351 5th Ave, Paterson, NJ 07514. A mass for Marta’s eternal rest of her soul will be celebrated at the St Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church, 83 Martin Street, Paterson, NJ 07501 Her burial will take place following the mass at the Fair Lawn Memorial Cemetery & Mausoleum, 22-21 Maple Ave, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 In lieu of flowers, Marta and her family would appreciate a donation in her memory to a charitable organization of your choice. Among her favorites were the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Disabled American Veterans, the Red Cross, the Saint Joseph’s Health Foundation and Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson. SPANISH Después de más de 101 años de una vida bien vivida, Marta falleció en paz luego de una breve estadía en el hospital. Falleció sabiendo que era amada por muchos y después de tocar cientos de vidas con su espíritu, coraje, bondad y sabiduría. Marta nació en Cumanayagua, Las Villas, Cuba. Vivió allí hasta que la familia se mudó a Camagüey a fines de la década de 1930. En Camagüey se casó, trabajó como maestra, formó una familia y apoyó la lucha de Cuba por la libertad hasta 1980 cuando emigró a la ciudad de Paterson en Nueva Jersey con su difunto esposo Henry. Paterson fue su hogar feliz hasta que falleció. Ella trabajó como maestra de escuela en varios niveles hasta 1968, cuando el régimen de Castro la despidió por ser la esposa de un Preso Político y no tener los “Valores Revolucionarios” adecuados que respaldaran ese régimen opresivo. Luego fue asignada a trabajar como empleada de almacén en una instalación de mantenimiento de transporte hasta su partida para los Estados Unidos. Una vez instalados en Paterson, Nueva Jersey, Marta y su esposo Henry trabajaron en la antigua fábrica de Keystone Camera en Getty Avenue, cerca de la frontera entre Paterson y Clifton hasta 1985, cuando se jubiló debido a problemas de salud. Después de su jubilación, se mantuvo ocupada ayudando con los nietos y cuidando a su familia y amigos. Como muchos de su generación, Marta tuvo una vida rica, inigualable y gratificante. Sobrevivió a la pobreza, la enfermedad, la persecución política, el exilio y la depresión, siempre manteniendo sus principios, creencias, civismo, humanidad y compasión. A través de sus muchas pruebas, Marta estuvo rodeada de familiares, amigos y conocidos que amaban, admiraban y respetaban la franqueza, integridad, honestidad y valentía con la que vivía. Marta fue una gran madre, maestra, mentora y amiga para muchos, pero, sobre todo, fue una guerrera y una sobreviviente con una resistencia sin igual, que luchó por su familia en todas las facetas de la vida. Era conocida por su chispa, candor, elegancia, firmeza y visión, lo que la ayudó a moldear las vidas de varias generaciones familiares. Amaba a los Estados Unidos y defendía ferozmente a su país adoptivo, pero extrañaba a su Cuba natal diariamente y constantemente maldecía el régimen comunista que hace sufrir a su pueblo sin pausa. Marta es la última de su generación en fallecer. La antecedieron Henry (Kin), su esposo de más de 52 años, sus padres Alejandro Peña y Alejandrina, y sus hermanos, Epifania, Josefa, Alejandro y Jorge. Marta deja atrás a dos hijos, Henry y Jorge y sus familias. Henry vive en Miami, Florida con su esposa Nancy (de soltera Pérez), sus hijas Annya y Kenia, sus respectivos cónyuges Fernando y Alexander junto con los hijos de Annya, Fernando y Manuel, y los hijos de Kenia, Alexander y Lucas. Jorge vive en Bloomfield, Nueva Jersey con Esther (de soltera Zayas), y sus hijos Jorge Luis, Natalie y Andrés también viven en Nueva Jersey. Jorge Luis, su esposa Andrea (soltera Biele) y sus hijos Gabriella y Alejandro viven en Manalapan, Natalie Polanco (soltera Martínez), su esposo Henry y sus hijos Rafael y Marcos viven en Union, y Andrés vive en Roselle. Marta también tiene una gran familia extendida de sobrinos, ahijados e innumerables amigos en Cuba, Estados Unidos, Puerto Rico, República Dominicana y España. Visitation will be at the Scillieri-Arnold Funeral Home, 351 5th Ave, Paterson, NJ 07514. A mass for Marta’s eternal rest of her soul will be celebrated at the St Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church, 83 Martin Street, Paterson, NJ 07501 Her burial will take place following the mass at the Fair Lawn Memorial Cemetery & Mausoleum, 22-21 Maple Ave, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 El velorio será en la funeraria Sciillieri-Arnold, 351 5th Avenue, Paterson, NJ 07514. Una misa por el eterno descanso de su alma de Marta se celebrará en la Iglesia Católica Romana de San Stephen, 83 Martin Street, Paterson, NJ 07501 Su entierro tendrá lugar después de la misa en el cementerio y mausoleo Fair Lawn Memorial, 22-21 Maple Ave, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410. En vez de flores, Marta y su familia agradecerían una donación en su memoria a una organización benéfica de su elección. Entre sus favoritos se encontraban el Hospital de Investigación Infantil St. Jude, los Veteranos Estadounidenses Incapacitados (DAV), la Cruz Roja, la Fundación de Salud de San José y Caridades Católicas, Diócesis de Paterson. Even during times of social distancing, anyone who has suffered a loss deserves love and support more than ever before. Let the family know you care by leaving treasured memories, thoughts and prayers on the Tribute Wall.

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ENGLISH After 101-plus years of a life well lived, Marta passed away peacefully on the 4th of July after a brief hospital stay. She passed away knowing she was loved by many and after touching hundreds of lives with her spirit, courage, kindness... View Obituary & Service Information

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