Elia Martinez Obituary

Elia Martinez was born on a day that was not on her birth certificate. Like many others from La Laguna Cercada, Guanajuato, her birth was not recorded until the day after her birth. Born on March 14, 1947, to Cayetano Martinez and Francisca Acevedo, she enjoyed celebrating her birthday on both March 14, or pi day, and March 15. She was the oldest of nine siblings, Celso (deceased), Fernando, Javier, Maria Elena, Silvia, Lupe, Juan, and Maribel. In 1968 she married Jesus Martinez from La Haciendita, Guanajuato. Jose Guadalupe was born the following year, and Elia spent the next 14 years having 9 children, Elia (deceased), Jesus, Luz Maria, Fernando, Irma, Neli, Araceli, and Juan Luis. Of note, Elia gave birth to all her children at home, unmedicated, with the assistance of her mother Francisca, who was the midwife of the area. In 1989, after many years of the older children and Jesus living and working in Chicago, Elia left La Haciendita with her youngest children. Reunited, the family looked forward to laying roots in Chicago, and they did, with Elia giving birth to her youngest Hugo in 1993. The family tree spread roots in Chicago and grew. Six of her children went on to give her 16 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren (and counting), as well as 6 granddogs. A devout Catholic, with the patience of a saint and the discipline of a monk, Elia prayed the rosary daily, and prior to the pandemic, went to mass for the Santisimo every day. She loved gardening and cooking and spent hours mastering recipes for her capricious and opinionated family members to enjoy. She loved the smell of fresh cilantro from the garden and the taste of ice cream. Her face lit up around babies, and the love and attention she gave to her children was obvious if you ever witnessed her holding a child. Elia was a skilled seamstress, tortilla maker, and tuna selector, and the food she made was therapeutic. She always had a plate for you, with leftovers to take home in a perfectly sized container. She is reunited with her daughter Elia, her brother Celso, and her parents Cayetano and Francisca. We are lucky to have been blessed by her unwavering love, kindness, humor, and compassion. We will miss you every day and look forward to seeing you again. Elia Martinez nacio en un dia que no estaba en su acta de nacimiento. Como muchos otros de La Laguna Cercada, Guanajuato, su nacimiento no fue registrado hasta el dia siguiente de su nacimiento. Nacida el 14 de marzo de 1947, hija de Cayetano Martinez y Francisca Acevedo, disfrutaba celebrar su cumpleanos tanto el 14 de marzo, como el 15 de marzo. Era la mayor de nueve hermanos, Celso (fallecido), Fernando, Javier, Maria Elena, Silvia, Lupe, Juan y Maribel. En 1968 se caso con Jesus Martinez de La Haciendita, Guanajuato. Jose Guadalupe nacio al ano siguiente, y Elia paso los siguientes 14 anos teniendo 9 hijos, Elia (fallecida), Jesus, Luz Maria, Fernando, Irma, Neli, Araceli y Juan Luis. Cabe destacar que Elia dio a luz a todos sus hijos en su casa, sin medicamentos, con la asistencia de su madre Francisca, quien era la partera de la zona. En 1989, despues de muchos anos de que los ninos mayores y Jesus vivieran y trabajaran en Chicago, Elia dejo La Haciendita con sus hijos menores. Reunida, la familia ansiaba echar raices en Chicago, y asi lo hicieron. Elia dio a luz a su hijo menor, Hugo, en 1993. El arbol genealogico echo raices en Chicago y crecio. Seis de sus hijos le dieron 16 nietos y 3 bisnietos (y contando), asi como 6 nieto-perros. Como catolica devota, con la paciencia de un santo y la disciplina de un monje, Elia rezaba el rosario todos los dias y antes de la pandemia asistia a misa todas las mananas para el Santisimo. Le encantaba la jardineria y la cocina, y pasaba horas perfeccionando recetas para que las disfrutaran sus caprichosos y obstinados miembros de la familia. Le encantaba el olor a cilantro fresco del jardin y el sabor del helado. Su rostro se iluminaba alrededor de los bebes, y el amor y la atencion que les brindaba eran obvios si alguna vez la veias sosteniendo a un nino. Elia era una habil costurera, tortillera y selectora de tunas, y la comida que preparaba era terapeutica. Siempre tenia un plato para ti, con sobras para llevar a casa en un recipiente de tamano perfecto. Se reencuentra con su hija Elia, su hermano Celso y sus padres Cayetano y Francisca. Somos afortunados de haber sido bendecidos por su amor, amabilidad, humor y compasion inquebrantables. Te extranaremos todos los dias, y esperamos verte de nuevo. A visitation for Elia will be held Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Ridge Funeral Home, 6620 West Archer Ave, with a wake service at 4:00 PM. Funeral services Friday, May 12, 2023 at 9:00 from the funeral home going to St. Clare of Montefalco Church, 5443 S Washtenaw Ave for a Mass at 10:00 am. Interment to follow at Saint Casimir Lithuanian Cemetery, 4401 W. 111th St. ,, Chicago, IL. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www. ridgefh. com for the Martinez family.