Maria Josefina Medrano Martinez

Medrano, Maria Josefina Martinez
of Kalamazoo, Michigan Passed away at her home on Monday, August 13, 2012 at the age of 47 years. Maria was born the oldest of triplet sisters on September 3, 1964, the daughter of Pedro Banda and Guadalupe Cortez Martinez. She graduated from Fennville High School and then attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She worked for Kalamazoo Public Schools for 14 years and the Boys and Girls Club for 7 years. Maria was a member of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Paw Paw, where she taught Children's Sunday School. She loved spending time with her family and being surrounded by children and nieces and nephews. She also enjoyed crocheting, arts and crafts, cooking and gardening. She was married to Samuel Medrano Jr. on July 18, 1989; he survives her. Surviving besides her husband are two sons and one daughter, Samuel Medrano III of Kalamazoo, Joel Adriano Medrano of Kalamazoo and Melisa Jasmin Medrano of Kalamazoo; her mother, Guadalupe Martinez; two brothers and five sisters, Pedro Sylvia Martinez, Alfredo Martinez, Imelda Martinez, Maria Isabel Jerry Osborn, Maria Estela Davison, Maria DeJesus Joe Garcia and Eva Narcissa Martinez; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. Maria was preceded in death by her father, Pedro Banda Martinez; her daughter, Marisa Angelita Medrano; and her sister, Juanita Martinez. Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 - 4:00 & 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 17, 2012 at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 East Centre Avenue, where a rosary service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Following the rosary service an evangelical service will take place at 7:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 18, 2012. Rev. Romualdo Salas Jr. will officiate with interment in Portage Central Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Boys and Girls Club of Kalamazoo.