Rebecca Mary Martinez

Martinez, Sister Rebecca (Beatrice Valentine), 97, was born February 14, 1920 in Wichita, KS, to Lucio and Rebecca Martinez and entered eternal life May 24, 2017. She was the eldest in a family of six children. Her education began at Waco Elementary School, continuing at St. Patrick’s School, St. Mary’s Cathedral High School and Sacred Heart College (now Newman University) in Wichita, KS. After two years attending to family responsibilities, she entered the Congregation of St. Joseph receiving the habit March 19, 1942, making final vows in August 1947. During those years she began her professional training to become a Registered Radiologic Technologist passing the Boards in 1944. During this ministry she worked in Congregation hospitals in Winfield, Parsons and Wichita. The latter was at St. Joseph Hospital where she ministered for 55 years. Upon retirement, she remained at that hospital as a volunteer until she moved to Marian Hall at Mt. St. Mary’s Convent in 2005 continuing her ministry in prayer. She was preceded in death by her parents Lucio and Rebecca, her brother Lucio F. and her sisters Mary Martinez, Eloise Helwig and Rosaline A. Stafford. In addition to members of her religious community, she is survived by her brother Laurence B. Martinez, and five nieces and seven nephews.

The Homecoming will be Monday, May 29, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. followed by the wake service at 6:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday May 30, 2017, at 1:00 p.m., all at Mt. St. Mary’s Convent, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to Dear Neighbor Ministries, Inc. or to the Retirement Fund of the Sisters of St. Joseph, 3700 E. Lincoln Wichita, KS 67218.

Arrangements under the direction of Devorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary, Wichita, KS.