Marina Valdes

Marina Valdes passed away peacefully with her family by her side on June 24, 2024. She was predeceased by her husband Robert and daughter Sandra Jean who welcomed her home. She is survived by her two daughters, Darlene Barmann (Mike) and Denise Graf (Steve), five grandchildren; Michael Barmann (Tabitha), Bobby Barmann, Bryan Graf (Yen), Jennifer Langmaack (John) and Steven Graf (Jenn) and five great grandchildren; Mikayla and Jaydon Barmann, Kinsey and Colton Langmaack and Alexandra Graf. She is also survived by many family members and friends who loved her dearly.

Her world was complete when she met Robert and married him. They had a blessed marriage for 55 years.

Marina was a true matriarch who always put her family first. There was nothing she would not give even if it meant she did without. Cooking was her specialty. One thing she knew for certain, when she made her spaghetti sauce, the family would stop what they were doing to come over. She never measured anything, it was simply a pinch of this and a dash of that and yet every time each dish tasted just like the last time. Even with her sauce recipe, while we may come close, duplicating the flavor is impossible. The missing ingredient is Marina. Flan was one of her favorites and her chocolate cake was a prized item. Let’s not forget to mention her home made Iced Tea.

She made Christmas time a truly special experience. Decorations, food and gifts were plentiful. Her hand-crafted Christmas stockings are a cherished reminder that will hang on each family’s mantle for years to come.

Marina was a driven worker. She worked in a fiberglass manufacturing plant and was part of the team that made the boats that, to this day, continue their journey at Walt Disney Word’s “It’s a Small World”. Bringing joy to others was her motivation.

She had a green thumb. It didn’t matter what condition the plant was in, she made it prosper. She especially enjoyed the flowers of her Plumeria plants.

Her life centered around family and friends. Sunday dinners, poker nights were cherished events.

Her legacy will carry forward with all those that she touched.