Ninety-two years after being born on July 1, 1921, in Wappinger Falls, N.Y., Nancy Josephine Martinez closed her eyes here to open them in heaven on Feb. 25, 2014.
Nancy Natole moved to California as a toddler with her parents, Thomas and Maria Conchetta Natole who emigrated from Messina, Italy. She was raised in San Francisco in the Mission District with her siblings, Anna and Thomas Natole, and her nieces, Josephine Licardo and Florence Dovinola. She graduated from Balboa High School in 1939 and married Raymond Roger Martinez in 1941 at the Church of the Epiphany.
She worked at Kay Jewelers and Pacific Cement and Aggregates (Lone Star) and retired on disability in the early 1970s. She relocated to Sonoma in 1976 and enjoyed the country life, keeping active in TOPS, and caring for her grandchildren. She and Ray celebrated 64 years of marriage before his death on Christmas 2005. She loved music, dancing, her home and her family.
Nancy is survived by her two daughters, Barbara Martinez, of Sonoma, and Maria Martinez, of Napa; and her sons-in law, Claudio Cernobori and Alan Esquibel. Also, continuing her legacy are her grandchildren, Lorelei (Cernobori) Donegan, Dante Cernobori, Matthew Martinez, Nicholas Martinez-Esquibel, Michael Martinez-Esquibel; and a great-grandchild due this summer. She also leaves behind her niece, Florence (Dovinola) Collins; godchild, Jeannine (Collins) Deming; and other nieces and nephews. Her family is comforted knowing that she was welcomed by her husband, Ray; daughter, Jeanette (Martinez) Cernobori; and granddaughter, Claudine Cernobori.
A celebration to honor her life will be held on Saturday, March 22, at 11:30 a.m. at Treadway and Wigger at 623 Coombs in Napa.
Donations to her memory can be sent to Hospice By The Bay, 190 W. Napa St., Sonoma, CA 95476.
She was deeply loved and will certainly be missed.
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