Helena Matilda Martinez

March 14, 1924 - September 12, 2018

Our Dear Mother, Grandmother, and Great- Grandmother went to join her beloved husband Frank on September 12, 2018. Helen was a descendant of the Mariano Cordero Family and the daughter of the late Ramona Cordero and Bernard Henrich Bischof. Helen was born in Santa Barbara on March 14, 1924. She attended Dolores grade school, Santa Barbara Junior High School and graduated from Santa Barbara Catholic High School in 1943. She later went on to attend Knapp School of Nursing through the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and graduated in 1946 and received her registered nursing license in 1947. Helen married Frank G. Martinez on December 28, 1946 in Yuma, Arizona. She then took time out to have and raise four children. When her children were older and in school, she volunteered at Our Lady of Guadalupe School as a health room nurse from 1960 to 1970. Helen later returned to nursing in 1974 working at the early Cancer Center and at various rest homes until her retirement in 1990. Helen is survived by her daughter Lida Martinez and sons Zachary (Cathy) and Frank (Janina) Martinez and grandchildren Scott (Debbie) Martinez, DiAnn (Sean) Campbell, Larissa (Gabe) Yates, Christine Martinez, Brian (Kiana) Martinez, Jeffrey (Emily) Martinez, Frankie (Jessica) Martinez, Rene (Rob) Rouleau, Saulina Martinez, Christopher Rangel, Janisha Rangel, Naomi Smith, Mia (Justin) Duarte, twelve great-grandchildren, 4 great-granddaughters and another one due in December, and eight great- grandsons. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Ramona and Bernard Bischof and son William Martinez, sisters Pauline Cadena, and Jeanne Salazar and brothers Frank, Ray, and Bernard Bischof. There will be a rosary on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at Welch-Ryce-Haider on Sola St. Helen's services will be held on Friday, September 28, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery.