Juliet Martin

Juliet Martin

October 26, 1930 - August 21, 2020
Murrieta California

Juliet Martin

October 26, 1930 - August 21, 2020
Murrieta California

Obituary

 

Obituary for Juliet Martin

 

Remembering Juliet Clara Mary Ragusa Martin, known to many as Julie Martin, was 89 years of age, just shy of 90 by 2 months.
Julie was born on the 26th of October, 1930 in Los Angeles, CA to the parents of Antonio and Louise Ragusa.  Julie resided at the Vineyard A/L Memory Care, Murrieta, CA for almost a year from August 24, 2019 to August 21, 2020 where she quietly and peacefully passed from this world.  Julie previously resided at the Groves, a vibrant Senior Community, in Irvine, CA.

Julie was preceded in death by her husband Lidio Martin of 54 years, her parents Tony & Louise Ragusa, and sister Rose Marie Ragusa Colvin, her brother in law, Norve.

Julie is richly blessed to be survived by her 5 daughters, her 5 sons in law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.:

 

Lorene Jeannette Martin Wielenga, husband James,

grand-daughter Julianna, husband John Crowder, great grandsons: Blake & Matthew

 

Micki Lynn Martin Zettel, husband Jerry, grandson Jeffery, wife Amanda Zettel

 

Karen Louise Martin Dehlinger, husband Steven,

grand-daughter: Caprice, husband Shawn Bachor, great-grandchildren: Connor, Cohen, Carson and Everly;

grandson Dallas Dehlinger;

and grandson Michael, wife Rachel Dehlinger, great grandchildren: Wyatt, Hannah, Dodge and Lydia

 

Nancy Lee Martin Zwart, husband Ivan, grandson Christian, grandson Joshua, wife Lyndsey Zwart, great-grandson Benjamin

 

Leanne Michele Martin Thormahlen, husband Bret, grandson Garrett

Julie is also survived by  Marrone Cousins, Colvin and Martin nieces and nephews, sister in law Tina Martin, Step-siblings: Tony Mollica, Mary Fantino, Connie Gundelach;  and many friends who were just as close as family.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 18, 2020 at O’Connor Mortuary in Laguna Hills, CA for the immediate Family.

A Webcast will be offered for Relatives and Friends. Final internment service will be at Ascension Cemetery, in Lake Forest, CA following the mortuary chapel service.

Julie lived in the Lincoln Heights area of East Los Angeles. The family attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church as did many relatives who lived close to the Church.

Julie often shared a memory with her daughters that she had started working at the tender age of 13, getting her start in a 5&dime store. Julie was no stranger to strong work ethics and commitments.

Julie graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1948.
During WWII and afterwards, Julie attended The Sons of Italy with her family and relatives for many Italian dances and seasonal gatherings.

It was at one Italian dance in particular that Lidio Martin, newly arrived from Canada, had entered the dance hall for the first time. This was the moment for “love at first sight” to find its way into Julie’s heart. Her sister Rose Marie cinched it when she started humming the wedding march as Lee made his way over to where Julie was sitting to ask her to dance. The rest is a 55+ year romance from engagement to marriage.

Juliet Ragusa and Lidio Martin were married on August 6, 1950 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2210 Sichel St, Los Angeles, CA. – a truly Italian affair. Their marriage was celebrated on the Feast of the Transfiguration: It is not only the celebration in honor of Jesus, but a celebration of the Holy Trinity, for all three Persons of the Trinity are interpreted as being present at that moment: God the Father spoke from heaven; God the Son was the one being transfigured, and God the Holy Spirit was present in the form of a cloud.  The union of Juliet and Lidio was highly blessed that day, and their 54 year marriage was a testimony of their love for the Lord.

Julie came from a very musical family, she had an amazing singing voice, played the piano, loved to dance – she and Lidio were just as captivating as Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers as they gracefully moved across numerous dance floors.

 

Julie sang in the Church choir in Westchester, CA at Visitation Church – her strong soprano voice could be heard above the other choir members coming down from the choir loft on Sunday mornings.

Julie and Lidio moved to Anaheim in the mid 1960’s with their 5 daughters – they found a beautiful home in a quiet neighborhood – walking distance to the happiest place on earth: Disneyland. During the summer months when the girls were still young, Julie would let the family know when it was getting to be time for the nightly display of fireworks. Those were truly memorable evenings! The thrill of those summer nights never slipped away.

Julie was an excellent cook like her mother, also learning many of the old world Italian recipes from her immigrant grandmother – especially the meatballs and spaghetti sauce which were absolutely superb – a Sunday favorite along with the traditional roast dinner.

As the daughters got older – the PTA was on the horizon.  During the high school years of the 3 youngest daughters – Julie found herself involved as a school mom at Loara High School in Anaheim. She was involved with drill team, choir and cheerleading/dance activities.

She and Lidio loved Friday night high school football, they made life – long friends because of the school activities that their daughters were involved in.

At one point Julie and Lee joined a bowling league with the other high school parents. They truly had a zest for life and the energy that went with it!
The folks loved traveling as time permitted. Their dream vacation was realized when they were able to make a trio tour trip to France, Italy and Greece.

Vegas and Pechanga Casino Resort in Temecula were also favorite fun spots for Julie with Lidio, as was the annual vacation condo week spent in Palm Desert with the Westchester friends who lived in the area.

Julie worked part-time in the evenings and on Saturday when the daughters were young. Sunday was always family day – Mass in the morning, dinner at her house – many times with grandparents, in-laws and cousins, or a drive to see the relatives on one of designated Sundays.

Birthdays and seasonal holidays were always memorable occasions – Mom had the pizazz for making them extra special – she was the hostess par excellence. We learned our family skills from watching our mother’s talents.

Julie’s working career included the Broadway Credit Dept, The Anaheim Credit Bureau, and the TRW Credit Bureau. There were years where she was an Escrow Officer.  Julie started her last career with Glendale Federal Bank in April 1972- eventually becoming a branch manager in Newport Beach.

During her retirement years Julie and Lidio could be found at Martin Lock and Safe helping out with office duties.

From December 2004 after Julie’s handsome, debonair Lidio was called home – thru August 2019 – Mom spent those years in her mobile home surrounded by her daughters and their families.  The spare bedroom was always open for the Texans and the Arizonians. She moved to the Vineyard in Murrieta, an excellent care facility, when it was necessary.

Julie enjoyed all the activities the Vineyard would engage the residents in – especially the singing – She knew the songs, never hesitating to join in – two of the employees who played guitar knew they had a great backup singer. It became customary for those 2 gentlemen to serenade Julie with her favorite songs when it became more difficult for her to leave her room.

One of the Vineyard lady employees kept a journal of the various residents – asking them questions so she could write down their answers – she asked Mom on July 26th, 2020 what is the one important thing you learned over the years of marriage:

“Be a good wife and mother to your kids.”

Mama, you did a great job of loving each and every one of us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

 

Funeral Service

  • Date & Time: September 18, 2020 (10:00 AM)
  • Venue: O'Connor Mortuary
  • Location: 25301 Alicia Parkway Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - (Get Directions)
  • Phone Number: (949) 581-4300

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11 responses to Juliet Martin

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  1. Dearest Mom,
    What a beautiful Eulogy & service you were given by all your family this Friday the 18th of September. You would have been so thrilled to see us all come together and salute your life and Dad’s too with love, laughter & tears of joy and tears of how much we will miss you in each of our lives. Your beautiful memory will go on and on in my heart & mind. I thank Jesus for calling you and bringing you home when He was ready for you. Until we meet again!

    I love you Mom, Karen

  2. Beautiful lady and kind

  3. We were blessed to be able to share in your service from our home, what a blessing to spend almost 90 years, and live where they could all enjoy you and you could be part of their lives. It was a wonderful service, many love offerings were shared. We were blessed to share in your families Holiday dinners, and get to know you better. Love from Les and Mary Zwart

  4. My sweet Noni was the last of her generation. She possessed a breed of divine love and strength that only comes from God. Her family was her everything, selflessly putting their needs before her own without fail. She filled our world with love, music, and laughter that no one on earth could ever replace. I will miss her Italian songs and incredible cooking, but her legacy lives on in the hearts of her daughters, grandchildren, and great grand children. A true matriarch, the imprint she left in this world and on our hearts will never be forgotten! Until the Glorious day we meet again… Arrivederci, Noni

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