Dee was born April 6, 1941, in Tierra Amarilla, NM, the daughter of Matthew and Josephine Valdez Martinez.
She was a trailblazer; an entrepreneur and business owner on the north end of Springfield for many years, also the first female delivery driver for Frito-Lay, and then retired from the State of Illinois. She enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, dancing, music, and loved her beloved animals. Dee’s favorite activity was spending time with her daughters and listening to Elvis. Her favorite song was Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” … because she did it her way.
Dee was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Rick Boroweic and Timothy Martinez, and two grandsons, Stephen and Anthony.
She is survived by her daughters, Maria (Michael) McCloughan, Ramona Zanetello-Martinez, Gina (Glen Meredith) Wilson, and Angie (Mark) Zanetello-Cooper; her best friend, Carolyn McAfee; sister, Patricia McFarland; brother, Joseph Martinez; grandchildren, Zachary (Tameka) Zanetello, Jessica (Joe) Betz, Stephanie Richardson, Ryan (Anne) Wilson, Kyla Lowry, Christopher McCloughan, Dylan Suter, Savana Suter, six great-granddaughters, four great-grandsons; several nieces and nephews; and many fur-babies.
Cremation was provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center.
Memorial Ceremony: 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 11, 2024, at Riverton KC Hall, 335 South 4th St., Riverton, IL.
Inurnment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions: In lieu of flowers, donation to the Animal Protective League.
The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield, IL.