Obituary for Regina Martinez
Regina Martinez, age 88, passed away peacefully in her home in Culver, Indiana, on Thursday, October 19, 2017. Regina was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 25, 1929 to Nettie (Ragowska) and Anton Jacewicz. She was predeceased by her husband of more than 40 years, Ernest G. Martinez, a son, Dale A. Martinez, and an elder sister, Irene Malatesta. She is survived by two sons, Ernest G. Martinez (Carol J.)and Michael J. Krchnavy Sechrist (Mary T. Vondriska), a daughter, Raquel G. Martinez(Eric W. Denny), 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, two sisters (Teresa Kolegraff and Dolores Doyle), a
grand-dog, three kitties, two turtles and many friends and relatives.Regina grew up on a farm in rural Indiana where, although she was not fond of riding horses, she herded cows, raised ducks and chickens, and loved a goat named Trixie as well as a dog named Sport.
She enjoyed tending to the vegetable and flower gardens. She learned to play the guitar and yodel there. She was a proud graduate of Ober School and Knox High School. Reggie
spent most of her adult life as a wife, mother, caregiver to her own mother, music teacher, and entertainer.It was not until she was an adult,with a family of her own,that she was able to return to school and pursue a higher education. She was an honor sstudent who studied music theory and fine arts at Morton College (Cicero, IL), the University of Illinois At Chicago (Chicago, IL) and Dominican University (River Forest, IL). She spoke three languages:
Spanish, Polish and English.She also overcame obstacles with courage and grace. For example, she was a breast cancer survivor. Regina could do some pickin’ and a grinin’, was a master classical guitarist, did her own arrangements of children’s songs,and was most noted for her rendition of “Poncho Claus” (Santa’s cousin from south of the Border).
Regina performed in a variety of Chicagoland venues and appeared on public television. She was a founding member of the “Troubadours”, a group of singers and musicians who
brought their music to a state fairs, ethnic festivals, parties and celebrations of all kinds. Additionally, she practiced her faith during guitar masses at Holy Family Catholic Church-
the second oldest church in Chicago and one of the few structures to survive the great Chicago Fire of 1871. She was recognized by her peers and rose to the presidency of the Chicago Guitar Society. Multi talented, she also played the piano, banjo, mandolin, violin and had a beautiful alto voice.She retired to the family farm where she spent the last 16 of her golden years, renewed childhood friendships, communed with nature,and occasionally enjoyed a good tequila or scotch.M.C. Smith Funeral Home of Knox is in charge of final
arrangements. A mass will be said on Saturday, October 28th at 1:30 (CST) at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Knox, IN. The internment will be private.
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grand-dog, three kitties, two turtles and many friends and relatives.Regina grew up on a farm in rural Indiana where, although she was not fond of riding horses, she herded cows, raised ducks and chickens, and loved a goat named Trixie as well as a dog named Sport.
She enjoyed tending to the vegetable and flower gardens. She learned to play the guitar and yodel there. She was a proud graduate of Ober School and Knox High School. Reggie
spent most of her adult life as a wife, mother, caregiver to her own mother, music teacher, and entertainer.It was not until she was an adult,with a family of her own,that she was able to return to school and pursue a higher education. She was an honor sstudent who studied music theory and fine arts at Morton College (Cicero, IL), the University of Illinois At Chicago (Chicago, IL) and Dominican University (River Forest, IL). She spoke three languages:
Spanish, Polish and English.She also overcame obstacles with courage and grace. For example, she was a breast cancer survivor. Regina could do some pickin’ and a grinin’, was a master classical guitarist, did her own arrangements of children’s songs,and was most noted for her rendition of “Poncho Claus” (Santa’s cousin from south of the Border).
Regina performed in a variety of Chicagoland venues and appeared on public television. She was a founding member of the “Troubadours”, a group of singers and musicians who
brought their music to a state fairs, ethnic festivals, parties and celebrations of all kinds. Additionally, she practiced her faith during guitar masses at Holy Family Catholic Church-
the second oldest church in Chicago and one of the few structures to survive the great Chicago Fire of 1871. She was recognized by her peers and rose to the presidency of the Chicago Guitar Society. Multi talented, she also played the piano, banjo, mandolin, violin and had a beautiful alto voice.She retired to the family farm where she spent the last 16 of her golden years, renewed childhood friendships, communed with nature,and occasionally enjoyed a good tequila or scotch.M.C. Smith Funeral Home of Knox is in charge of final
arrangements. A mass will be said on Saturday, October 28th at 1:30 (CST) at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Knox, IN. The internment will be private.
To plant a tree in memory of Regina Martinez, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Service
Saturday
28
Oct
1:30 PM
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
406 E. Washington St.
Knox, IN 46534
Memorial Contribution
Center for Hospice
Catholic Charities
Morton college foundation
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