This was just one example of who Ceferino was and how he impacted those around him. Ceferino was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Ceferino wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Ceferino was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve him well throughout his life.
Ceferino or Rafael, as known to many, was born on August 8, 1921 at his family home in "el campo" in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. He was the son of Jorge & Rosa. Ceferino was raised in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Always at the ready with a good joke, he grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Ceferino might describe him as an idealist, his friends and family understood well that Ceferino was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to him.
Ceferino was raised with 17 siblings. Ceferino was very accepting and supportive of his family. He was perceived as the central person in his family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. Whenever discord or tension arose within the home, Ceferino was typically the member who brought about resolution and harmony. These traits served Ceferino well in his adult life and, along with his wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, drew the admiration of many who knew him.
As a young boy, Ceferino was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew him into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Ceferino was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with his peers. He was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. Ceferino was a hard worker at the early age of five. In his spare time he liked to help on his family's farm. Ceferino had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity he and the many childhood friends he shared might discover.
On June 1, 1947, Ceferino married Bienvenida Martinez at at a Catholic church in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Ceferino's skill at “building bridges” played an important role in his ability to make his new family happy. He was quite sensitive towards Bienvenida's needs, showing his constant concern and fondness. Ceferino was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served him well in helping to nurture his family.
Ceferino was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide his family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. For Ceferino, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of his life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in the Martinez home. Ceferino's skill at understanding his children's feelings, his sensitivity to their needs, and his gift for gentle persuasion enabled him to find novel solutions to any problem or situation that might crop up. Ceferino was blessed with 4 children: Rafael (Francis), George (Norma), Nancy (Octavio) and Rosie (Eladio). They were also blessed with 11 grandchildren, Lissette, Rafael Jr., George Jr., Arelis, Adrian, Roseann, Jorge, Andre, Veronica, Vanessa, Yasmine and 15 great grandchildren.
Ceferino was uplifted by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made him an exceptional worker. His primary occupation was a foreman. He was employed by Kraft Heinz Co until retirement. Ceferino was enterprising, inventive and working against deadlines seemed to energize him. Ceferino had the uncanny ability to identify a win/win solution to just about any problem, possibly because of his gift for insight. Ceferino's fellow workers saw him as a supporter and a mentor.
Because Ceferino loved to have a broad variety of activities in his life, he took advantage of the opportunity to pursue numerous hobbies. His favorite pursuits included helping family, entertaining himself with general repairs, and actively involved as a member in his church. Ceferino had a knack for being able to multi-task in order to create time for all of his favorite pastimes. However, Ceferino's ever-present concern for others always took precedent.
When Ceferino's retirement finally came in 1994, Ceferino handled it the way he usually did. He adapted and, like everything in his life, made it satisfying. Because he was such a flexible person and able to adjust to any situation, retirement was just another enjoyable change of pace for Ceferino to master. His new life involved relocating to Tampa, Florida. In retirement, he found new pleasure in building his new retired life in Florida, staying active in church, and always putting his family first. Even in retirement, Ceferino continued to stay in touch with his old friends and like always, made plenty of new ones.
Ceferino Martinez passed away on May 22, 2020. He peacefully died in his home surrounded by loved ones in Chicago, Illinois. Ceferino fought a brave battle against dementia. He is survived by his children, Rafael (Francis), George, Nancy and Rosie; his grandchildren Lissette, Rafael Jr., George Jr., Arelis, Adrian, Roseann, Jorge, Andre, Veronica, Vanessa, Yasmine; his great-grandchildren, and his brother Thomas and his sister Rosin. Services were held at St. Cyprian Catholic Church. Ceferino was laid to rest in Maryhill Catholic Cemetery.
There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Ceferino. He was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. He had a knack for being clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While he was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Ceferino Martinez for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Ceferino was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with his loved ones.
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