Dominga Martinez

Dominga Fomaza Guillen Martinez, 79, of Waco passed away peacefully on March 4, 2018, two days before her 80th birthday. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 8, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Rev. Benjamin Magnaye will preside over the service. A time of family and friends visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, March 7, with a Holy Rosary at 7 p.m., at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in Waco. Dominga was born in Winkler, Texas, on March 6, 1938, to Amalia and Felipe Guillen, though the family settled in Corsicana just a few years later. Dominga was only six years old when her mother died. Though her older sister, Bessie, helped to care for the family, Dominga dropped out of school in the 3rd grade in order to care for her younger brothers, Lee and Fred (ages four and two at the time). She married Santos “Tito” Martinez on February 8, 1964, and they settled in Waco, the same year that Tito opened his barbershop in downtown Waco. All through their early years, Dominga helped to make ends meet by cleaning houses, sewing and doing various other jobs. Their marriage was a wonderful partnership through all of their 54 years together and was inspirational to those around them. They became parents to sons, Felipe “Phil”, Roman, Roberto “Rob”, Samuel, and also a son, Daniel, who died at birth. Education was always important to her, and she obtained her GED, and in between getting her boys to school and their other activities, she attended night school. She received her LVN in 1981 from MCC and was encouraged by those she worked with in the medical community to continue her education. She received her RN from MCC in 1985. She worked as a nurse at Hillcrest Hospital for many years. She was a charge nurse and also worked as an oncology nurse, deeply devoted to her many patients through the years. Her proudest moments in life were seeing her sons graduate with their college degrees. Dominga’s family was the greatest love of her life, and she delighted in cooking and caring for them, making holidays special occasions and important time to be together. Enjoying food, stories and laughter around her table are memories that family members of all ages will carry with them all of their lives. Dominga and Tito enjoyed traveling together, and any time other family could join them on trips, that made the trip much more special. Dominga was a woman of devout faith and strength, which guided every part of her life. She was deeply committed to her family of faith at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A trip to Italy to visit the Vatican was one of the most significant experiences of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Amalia and Felipe Guillen; sister, Bessie Moreno; and brothers, Pete Guillen, Paul Guillen, Wiley Guillen, Chancy Guillen and Lee Guillen. She is survived by her husband, Santos Martinez of Waco; son, Felipe Martinez and wife, Anna, and children, Michael and Emma Clark-Martinez, of Waco; son, Roman Martinez and wife, Stephany, and children, Reicher, Easton, Quinn and Lawson Martinez, of Lincoln, Nebraska; son, Roberto Martinez and wife, Christy, and children, Ella and Ava Martinez, of Waco; and son Samuel and wife, Renee, and children, Libby, Louie, and Hannah Martinez, of Waco. She is also survived by a brother, John Guillen and his wife, Linda, of Temple; brother, Fred Guillen and his wife, Kathy, of Belton; and beloved in-laws, nieces, and nephews. Serving as pallbearers are her grandsons, Reicher Martinez, Easton Martinez, Samuel “Louie” Martinez, and Michael Clark-Martinez; brother, Fred Guillen; nephews, Phillip Guillen and Louis Moreno; and family friend, Mike Hartfield. The family is grateful to all of the caregivers—too many to name—that have tended to Dominga in these last few years of declining health. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Providence Hospice or Community Cancer Association. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.