Dolores Martinez

Today, Heaven welcomed home one of God’s finest soldiers. Born in Puerto Rico in 1929, she is survived by her daughter, Lisy; her son, Pedro; her four grandchildren, Jose Manuel, Sandry, Corally, and Xiomara; and seven great-grandchildren: Joey, Aryana, Natalia, Hector Jr., Arelis, Sofía, and Anaís.

After 96 remarkable years on this Earth, the matriarch of our family was called to rest. And though our hearts ache, we can’t help but celebrate the life she lived, a life defined by courage, resilience, love, and an unshakable faith.

She was a trailblazer long before the world made room for women like her. As the oldest of ten siblings, she carried responsibility on young shoulders. Brilliant and determined, she finished high school and went off to college at just sixteen, driven by a simple but powerful force to accomplish her goals and help her parents support the family.

She is now finally reunited with the love of her life, Pedro. The way she spoke about him, and the way they looked at each other even after years together, was something special, the kind of love people write stories about. The kind of love that reminds you what commitment, loyalty, and partnership truly mean.

She is also together again with her youngest daughter, Mayra, who loved to say with pride, “My mother became the first woman executive at Avon, breaking the glass ceiling in the mid-70s at a time when the world wasn’t exactly welcoming women into those spaces.” It was a man’s world, they said. But that never stopped her. If anything, it only made her work harder, three times harder, until the world had no choice but to recognize her.

Our best memories with her were the moments:

The food.

The family.

The laughter and banter.

The dominoes slamming on the table.

The loud music filling the house.

And above all, the love.

She was a woman of deep faith and an even deeper devotion to her family. Her love for dominoes was legendary, but her love for us was greater than anything else in her world.

Throughout her life, she helped every single one of us in ways big and small. The truth is, none of us could ever fully express how grateful we are for the gift of having her as our pillar, someone we could always lean on.

Now, let’s be honest, no one is perfect.

With all that wisdom came a little sass. She definitely believed she knew better all the time… and to be fair, with nearly a century of life experience, she usually did. That strength, that fire, that voice, it’s part of what made her the incredible woman she was. She was the matriarch, the foundation, the glue that held this family together.

And as we continue on our own journeys, we should remember that every one of us carries a piece of her legacy. No matter where life takes us, she was always proud of this family.

Thank you for the lessons, the love, the laughter, and the strength you passed down to all of us. Your work here is done. Now you can finally rest and enjoy eternity beside the love of your life and the rest of the family waiting for you in Heaven.

We love you, always.

Visitation will be held at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 601 N Park Ave, Apopka, FL 32712, US, on March 19, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

A Graveside Service will take place at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513, US, on March 23, 2026, from 10:30 am to 11:00 am.