Sixta Oliva Martinez

Sixta O. Martinez ascended to Heaven on September 15, 2023, at her home and surrounded by her family. She was born on April 6, 1930 to Josephina Oliva and Lucas Salas in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. At the age of 15, Sixta married Julian Martinez of McNeil, Texas, and they soon established their life together in Round Rock, Texas. Sixta was a very hard worker, and eventually moved north to Michigan, where she sought better opportunities. She began her employment and later retired from the Grand Trunk Railroad, where her husband was also employed.

She was an avid seamstress who also enjoyed knitting and crocheting, and she shared those talents by teaching sewing at St. John Evangelist Elementary School and making clothing not only for her children, but also for school and church activities. Sixta was also an exceptional cook for her family, making tortillas from scratch every day to go with each meal. She enjoyed a variety of music, especially cumbias, and was always the first to dance.

Sixta was a woman of faith and a parishioner of St. Matthew Church for approximately 40 years. She was a blessing in the lives of all who knew her, and her blessings will always be with us. In her own words, “bendición, con todo mi corazón.”

Sixta is survived by her brother Raul Salas of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and her children: Ernesto (Pile) Martinez, Juanita Farmer, Josephina (Truman) Dyer, Ramon (Marie) Martinez, Mary Ann Doherty, Beatrice Guty, Ester Malec, Margarita Martinez, Angela Martinez, Jamie Martinez, Carolyn Martinez, Anthony Martinez, Sandra Martinez and Kimberly Martinez. She also leaves behind 64 grandchildren, 81 great-grandchildren, and 35 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by: her husband, Julian Martinez; four children, Rosemary Martinez, Richard Martinez, Jose Martinez and Julian Martinez Jr.; three grandchildren, Mario Martinez, Julian Martinez III, and James Farmer Jr.; her sister, Ester Salas, and two brothers, Ruben and Arturo Salas.

Visitation will be held for family from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm on Wednesday and for the public on Wednesday and Thursday from 2:00 pm until 8:30 pm at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave, at Vernier Rd, Grosse Pointe Woods. A PRIVATE family moment will be held on Thursday at 8:45 PM. A Rosary will be recited on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. Sixta will lie instate on Friday from 8:30 am until the time of the Mass of the Resurrection at 9:00 am at St Matthew Catholic Church, 6021 Whittier, Detroit.