Rafaela A. Martinez

Rafaela A. Martinez ~ “Chacha”

When Rafaela A. Martinez, lovingly known as “Chacha”, entered a room the first thing that would catch your eye would be her radiant smile. Her warm greeting & sincere love for people was evident in ALL she said & did. There was no doubt that she enjoyed the company she was in…it was felt & lived out loud. She truly just LOVED people and made everyone feel special~ whether it was among her own family or someone just standing next to her in line at a grocery store or bank. So much charisma & an ease to make others warm up to her and in turn enjoy her company & conversation as well was a given…a GOD given gift she definitely was BLESSED with and it showed~ it was contagious. Grandma Chacha was very loving & loved…praising GOD for ALL the lives that she touched & left a FORVER mark of love in many a heart. Thankful she knew how many loved her in return…too many to even begin to count!! She was affectionately cared for & treasured by

all ages!

Rafaela A. Martinez was born October 24, 1939 in Michoacan, Mexico to Antonio Martinez Bernal and Rosa Rafaela Martinez Anguiano. Her birth name was actually Elodia Rafaela but everyone just knew her as Chacha, a nickname given to her by her older brother Tonio. He specifically gave her that name when she was a baby & was crying in her crib. Tonio came to get mommy saying, “A chacha (trying to say “muchacha“) chillando…” The name stuck like glue to the point that Chacha didn’t know Rafaela was her real name! A nun broke the news one day when she was at school. Chacha was shocked!

Chacha was raised primarily in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. She enjoyed school and was a very adventurous girl. Rolling down huge hills in tires, climbing trees, going up the wrong way on huge slides, getting into trouble because she wouldn’t wear her raincoat & walked home in the rain!! She & her best friend Irma did everything together. Many a times Irma was encouraged to do things because Chacha did not take, “No I can’t” for an answer, Chacha would even put Irma in front of herself when going up the huge slide so that she had no choice but to go up that slide!! Chacha was like this with many of her friends, a bit forceful and a bully…. she was one who would start throwing rocks at those who dared say no to her. She would often tell the story of how a few girls got together one day & actually ganged up on Chacha~taking her books, throwing them on the ground, some grabbing her hands & feet & others hitting her legs w/ a

stick….boy did she learn her lesson, the hard way!! Chacha would just laugh when she thought of the scenario! She grew to become a faithful & true friend who stuck by you no matter what. Filled w/ good advice, willing to help & come alongside her friends to encourage, protect, & support them….and to point them in the right direction.

Chacha lived with her parents & older brother Antonio in Tijuana where she, as a Mexican girl did much for her brother Tonio. Chacha would iron his clothes, do his bed, and warm water for his bath. She would also take his bike without permisson. Tonio & Chacha were very opposite, while Tonio was very obedient & compliant ~ Chacha was a lil more defiant. One instance Chacha’s brother was caught in a lie and he asked his dad to spank him because he deserved it~ Chacha’s response was, “Run dummy!!” Chacha & her best friend Irma gleaned much wisdom while listening to their borthers talk about different girls, the good & bad traits that many guys looks for & run from. Later on Chacha’s best friend, Irma grew up to marry Chacha’s brother Tonio. They have 8 kids, 4 boys & 4 girls and are still happily married. Chacha and Irma at still best friends & she is one of the favoite aunts!

Chacha’s mother & father owned a lil’ store & a milk delivery service. Chacha’s mom was busy running the store day in & day out, too busy to teach Chacha how to cook. Chacha’s mom would only close the store when the family would go see a new “Cantinflas” movie at the theater. Chacha’as father would seasonally leave to places like Fresno to work the fields. Their family lived through a huge flood that swept away many of their belongings. Chacha’s mom was always giving her advice about boys, about life, and good godly character. Chacha’s mom was diagnosed with stomach cancer and passed away when Chacha was only 15 or 16. God granted her mother’s wish to die in her sleep.

Chacha’s father remarried when Chacha was only 18 or 19 years old & living on her own in San Pedro, CA. He was in his 60’s and his new wife, Susana was in her 30’s. Susana was a faithful wife who truly loved & cared for Chacha’s father until he died at the age of 83…Chacha was eternally grateful. Both her father & step mother legally adopted a lil girl named Rosita who was around the same age as Chacha’s own children. Chacha appreciated and embraced her lil’ sister who she loving called Rossy.

Chacha enjoyed learning & going to church at a very young age. Chacha had her own lil school at home where she was paid to prepare neighborhood kids for kindergarten. She charged a lil extra for some TV time too!! Chacha had wanted to be a nurse but changed her mind after a huge accident where a bus over turned & there were many injured. Chacha was very compassionate but felt it was too much to see soo much pain & suffering. Chacha grew up to be very independent, working & living w/ her good friend Maria Elena in San Pedro, Ca. Chacha worked at Chicken of the Sea cannery, cleaning fish. Chacha lied about her age so that others wouldn’t want to take advantage of a 19 year old who was basically on her own. Chacha was a hard worker & trustworthy, so much so that she was able to get a job at the cannery for a few people including her step mother, Susana & her future husband, Miguel E. Martinez.

One of Chacha’s first memories of Miguel was while visiting her father’s sister, Marcelina in El Ejido Hermosillo. Miguel was playing a guitar among a group of kids. Chacha thought Miguel himself was just a very TALL kid. Miguel was a very helpful son who helped his mom make tortillas & worked the fields on a tractor. On one occasion when Miguel came to pick up a few in his car…Aunt Marcelina joked about going “en el carro de los novios” refering to Chacha & Miguel…Chacha just thought, “Don’t think so, no way!” Little did she know that Miguel was indeed older then Chacha by 4 yrs. and her “Principe Azul” (Prince Charming). The one who said she would never marry, feel in love. Miguel showed up in San Pedro, seeking work, seeking Chacha…with the encouragement and blessing of Chacha’s father.

Miguel Estrada Martinez and Rafaela “Chacha” Martinez Anguiano were married on June 24, 1967. When Miguel proposed, Chacha asked him to make sure he was really sure of what he was doing~ Miguel’s reply, “I went around you a few times & landed in the same spot!” Both continued to work in the cannery purposely living off of one check & saving the other! Instead of buying a car or just one house they bought 2 houses, one to live in & one to rent. They rode the bus everywhere…in fact Chacha never learned how to drive! Very wise with their finances, made the sacrifices & made it work. Chacha & Miguel were blessed with 3 children: a daughter, Noemi~ named after a lil’ girl Miguel knew…(Chacha would joke & say, “Yes, more like a big girl w/ a few curves!”); a son, Gregorio Miguel (Greg), and a son, Miguel Jr. (Maico/ Michael). Both were great parents…yes worked many hours and had friends & family care for their kids but

definitely MADE TIME, took advantage of every opportunity to spend time w/ their kids. Disneyland, beach, parks, Marineland, family vists to TJ, El Ejido, & Oceanside. Choices were made & a shoe, depending on where it landed would decide where the family was going!! On one car trip to Navojoa & Guadalajara the kids came down with the chicken pox & Chacha & Miguel just kept going spreading the chicken pox every where they stopped!

Chacha was finally able to stop working when Miguel was moved to San Diego with Chicken of the Sea. Chacha became a full time wife, mom, & home maker! Chacha was busy establishing and enabling friendships with those in our community, family, & nieghborhood. Chacha was a great hostess & playmate…she enjoyed playing her recods & dancing w/ her kids, foosaball tournaments, baseball games (Dodger fan), cheering on her boys during their own baseball games & taking them to practices, helping out in the snack shop and at school, beach camping, walking lots of walking, TJ (tacos, movies, a Menudo concert, parks, ice cream), encouraged sleepovers w/ cousins, ATV riding, n more vists to see family!! Church was a major priority…learning about GOD was a must. As a family attendance at St. Puis in Chula Vista was a must. Chacha set a great godly example of LOVE for God, family, friends, & others!!

Because of Chacha’s arthritis both she & Miguel decided to buy a property in Salton City where they both worked “just to pass the time & for gum/ new car money”. Both were a big blessing to the community & established many friendships while also helping & giving of themselves to others. Chacha & Miguel were very generous with their kids, with those in need…each one of their kids have a home because of them…many were blessed w/ everything from food, clothing, to transporting medical needs, giving of their time to those who were lonely, making many feel & know that they were special, loved & cared for. Placing a treasured value on each life they touched no matter what age, gender, or race...they highly valued people!!

Chacha & Miguel lived to see their own kids have kids & some happily married! In all they have 10 grandchildren…presently ranging from the 20’s down to a 4 year old. Nicco, Steven, Tianna, Alina, Samantha, Anika, Mikey, Abrahamichael (Abey), Sephastian, and Anthony…many beautiful memories no one can ever take away. Special celebrations, fun games, special trips including a cruise and trip to Mexico w/ cousins & nieces… so many unforgettable stories, so many funny moments….much wisdom & advice were a given. Without a doubt all are very loved by their grandama Chacha. They all loved grandma Chacha very much. When Grandpa Miguel passed away the legacy to love and enjoy those around us continued! Grandma Chacha became grandma Chacha to many more of all ages through a Moms & Kids group @ Calvary San Diego and at various churches she attended with her son, Michael…Chacha’s family grew even BIGGER … her own family didn’t mind

sharing her with all those around her…captivating many a heart, why? ~ because her own heart was big enough to love even more people… her family also was blessed by seeing the love that others had for her!!!!

Grandma Chacha has had in ALL about 8 surgeries, in all of them soo brave, so confident, a TOTAL peace in GOD, trusting that her life was in HIS loving hands. No fear, an amazing example to all. With all of Chacha’s surgeries she would recover without any complications…this time it was different…God knew the number of Chacha’s days even before Chacha took her fist breath…like she would say, “de la raya no vamos a pasar” Her time was now. Chacha is with JESUS & dancing w/ Miguel…to continue living the way she did? or to be with the LORD? free of pain & sorrow…God’s perfect will was to take her home w/ HIM~ to be absent from the body is to be PRESENT with the LORD!! 2 Cor. 5:8 Chacha prayed in the name of Jesus she knew HIM as her Lord & Savior! Yes, Chacha has left a hole in our heart but one that is filled & overwhelmed with God & a legacy of faith that Chacha has left with ALL she loved & loved her. Faith that yes~ Chacha

will be missed but FAITH that she will be seen again, NEVER to be separated from those she loved & the many who loved her!

Arrangements under the direction of Glen Abbey Mortuary, Bonita, CA.