A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. today at the Apostolic Jubilee Center, 2027 Tulsa Street, Modesto, for Esther Valdez Martinez, 66, of Modesto. She died April 11, 2012 at Doctors Medical Center surrounded by family members.
Born Nov. 3, 1945 in Madera to Fortunato and Julia Martinez, Esther attended Keyes School where she was the graduating class valedictorian. She attended Turlock High School, California State University Fresno graduating Summa Cum Laude and U.C. Hastings School of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 1984. Mrs. Martinez began practicing law in Modesto in 1989, focusing on immigration law. She sought to help the Latino community and women to empower themselves becoming self-sufficient through education. Esther was a member of the Apostolic Jubilee Center of Modesto. She was a woman of incredible faith and loved to read her Bible.
She leaves behind her siblings, Tony Martinez, Delia Nayarez, Martha Aguilar, Fortunato Martinez Jr., Daniel Martinez, Serah Martinez-Ibarra, Preciliano Martinez, Frank Martinez, David Martinez, Raquel Martinez-Henriquez, Greg Martinez and Richard Martinez. Esther is preceded in death by her parents Fortunato and Julia Martinez and siblings Cosme Martinez, Frank Martinez, Isabel Nevarez, and Jose Martinez.
-Ceres Courier/ April 18, 2012
Born Nov. 3, 1945 in Madera to Fortunato and Julia Martinez, Esther attended Keyes School where she was the graduating class valedictorian. She attended Turlock High School, California State University Fresno graduating Summa Cum Laude and U.C. Hastings School of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 1984. Mrs. Martinez began practicing law in Modesto in 1989, focusing on immigration law. She sought to help the Latino community and women to empower themselves becoming self-sufficient through education. Esther was a member of the Apostolic Jubilee Center of Modesto. She was a woman of incredible faith and loved to read her Bible.
She leaves behind her siblings, Tony Martinez, Delia Nayarez, Martha Aguilar, Fortunato Martinez Jr., Daniel Martinez, Serah Martinez-Ibarra, Preciliano Martinez, Frank Martinez, David Martinez, Raquel Martinez-Henriquez, Greg Martinez and Richard Martinez. Esther is preceded in death by her parents Fortunato and Julia Martinez and siblings Cosme Martinez, Frank Martinez, Isabel Nevarez, and Jose Martinez.
-Ceres Courier/ April 18, 2012
