Trinidad Martinez's Obituary
The Life of Trinidad MartinezOn February 22, 1922, Camilo and Luisa Martinez were blessed with the birth of twin daughters. Socorro and Trinidad Martinez. Trinidad and Socorro were born in Fort Worth, Texas. In all, Trinidad had two brothers: Alphonso and Reynaldo and three sisters, including her twin, Socorro, Margarita (Tia Maggie) and Felicitas (Tia Feliz).In the family’s early years, Trinidad’s parents traveled wherever there was work. When Trini was just one-year old, her family moved to Oklahoma. Three years later, the family moved to Nebraska. And shortly after the birth of Felicitas, the family moved to Tennant, California. There, Trini’s parents worked as flaggers for a logging company. While living in Tennant, Trinidad, her three sisters, and her cousins attended Tennant Elementary School.Trinidad spoke of her memories of living in Tennant, attending school there, and playing as a child with neighbors and cousins. She spoke highly of her Father Camilo, who during the snowy winter months made a path for her and siblings to walk to school. Trinidad spoke about riding the “red” train with her grandmother to Oregon for groceries and for clothing. She talked about how they would follow the train when it came through town to see if the conductors would throw fruit or candy to them.In 1926 at the age of four, Trinidad suffered the loss of her mother, Luisa. Camilo asked his parents to come to Tennant to help him take care of his children while he worked.In addition to working as flaggers for the logging company, The Martinez Family ran a small business. Trinidad’s grandmother cooked for the local loggers and made beer, illegally, and stored it beneath the floors to keep it hidden and cold. Trinidad described how the family owned a huge table and how the workers would visit and sit while her grandmother made food for all. To make money, Trinidad would crank the Victrola so they could have music while the workers dined and drank.Four years later, when Trinidad was eight (1930), there was another big change for The Martinez Family. It was called the “Mexican Repatriation.” Thousands of Mexican immigrants living in the United States, along with their U.S. born children, were placed on buses and trains and shipped back to Mexico. Trinidad and her grandparents, father, uncles, sisters and cousins went back to Zacapo, Michoacán, Mexico. Trinidad said that life there was hard. She didn’t know Spanish and had to attend a school where she and others were considered outcasts and were teased.Trini’s father went back to the United States to work. Trini and her siblings were left in the care of her grandparents and uncles and aunts. Her uncle’s whippings were brutal and at age 14 it nearly cost Trinidad her life. She told the story of waking up and finding people lighting candles and praying around her. She joked that she was brought back to health by drinking milk from a black donkey. She took her near-death experience as God’s message to her to live, grow, and have many children.At the age of 16 or 17, Trinidad was married and made her way to Tijuana. At age 18 she gave birth to twin daughters Martha and Mary Ellen. At the age of 20, Trinidad gave birth to Consuelo, and, at age 21, she gave birth to a son, Angel. Both Consuelo and Angel died at an early age.At age 24, Trinidad gave birth to Mary Lou. And at age 25, she had another daughter, Celia.Near 1948, Trinidad returned to the United States with her daughters and took a job at a restaurant. While working there, she met a man she described as “strong, tall, and good-looking.” The man noticed her and asked her to have coffee with him. That man was Raymond Cruz. He often came to the restaurant looking for Trinidad, courted her, and brought her and her four daughters, to live with him.Near 1955, Raymond and Trinidad were married.Between 1950 and 1957, Trinidad gave birth to Dolores, Raymond Jr., Daniel, Jose, and Beatrice. Four years after, her last children, Deanna was born.The older daughters were growing up, getting married, and gradually moving on and starting their own families. The children of Raymond and Trinidad grew and lived for many years on 36th & Logan. Trinidad worked with her sisters as a shirt presser. Anyone who saw the sisters together, whether they were pressing shirts, cooking, or just sitting at a kitchen table, could see how they enjoyed each other’s company. Trinidad and her sisters often lived close to each other, across the street from each other, on the same property, or in the same apartment complex.In 1968, Raymond and Trinidad were divorced and in 1973, Trinidad sold the property at 36th & Logan, moving with Jose and Deanna to National City, and then, to Chula Vista, where she lived for 45 years until her passing. In 1979, she purchased a double-wide mobile home and lived in it, with pride and happiness. It was her last home.To the surprise of all of her children, near the age of 60, Trinidad learned to drive. She bought herself a new Chevette and took great care of it. She never had a car wreck.She enjoyed gardening, cooking, good food, and being active. She looked forward to the holidays. For the last Christmas Eve gathering at her home, she made tamales and gave them as gifts to her children. This was a tradition for her and for her children.Until her last days, Trinidad prayed and read The Bible daily. Her children can testify to the thousands of hours that she devoted to prayer, speaking to God, thanking Him for His goodness, and asking Him to protect all of her children. Her sons and daughters knew how they were protected by their mother’s prayers. She never stopped being a mother, not even in her sleep. She never stopped counting her children and never stopped checking on their well-being.Trinidad lived to see four generations of offspring. Each birth that happened brought her joy while adding to her legacy. She often said that God blessed her with many kids and that all of her children had grown up to be good people. With these thoughts on her mind, she left this world in peace.She had 12 children, 26 grandchildren, 62 great grandchildren, and 15 great-great grandchildren.Her companion in her last 20 years was Gabriel Chavez. We are grateful to him for the joy and friendship he shared with Trinidad over the years.In her last days, she was touched by the visits she received from her children, and from the neighbors and friends she met where she lived. They came to know her and adore her, attracted by her friendly nature, strength, kindness, closeness to God, and devotion to her children. She will live and speak in our hearts and souls for the remainder of our days.
What’s your fondest memory of Trinidad?
What’s a lesson you learned from Trinidad?
Share a story where Trinidad's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Trinidad you’ll never forget.
How did Trinidad make you smile?