Julia Martinez Torres' Obituary
Julia Martinez TorresMarch 18, 1942 – December 17, 2017 Beloved wife, mother and nana, Julia quietly passed away in her home the evening of December 17, 2017. Born in Durango, Mexico on March 18, 1942, Julia was raised in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and then immigrated to the United States in 1961. She met her husband Raul F. Torres at a wedding in the Bay Area and married 12 months later on August 19, 1962. Together they had four loving children, Julie, Raul, Leticia and Cristina. Raul and Julia settled in Union City in 1968 to raise their beautiful family. She was a proud Union City resident for 49 years.Julia was a giving and exceptional woman who loved children. She was a doting grandmother who delighted in actively participating in the lives of her grandchildren. In addition to cherishing her own family, she helped raise many wonderful children—first through her role as a nanny in El Paso and San Francisco and then through the operation of her Union City day care center of over 30 years. Many of the children she loved and supported also affectionately call her Nana. She became a United States citizen in 1996. As a bilingual US citizen she was a proud advocate for others. She boldly helped organize a union while working for a plastics factory and served as a union steward. After her work as a parent volunteer, she was appointed to the board of Southern Alameda County Head Start Program where she served for 10 years. As a board member she helped expand the program throughout the East Bay, met President Clinton and traveled nationally championing the importance of Early Childhood Development and Education.Julia is survived by her loving husband Raul F. Torres married 55 years; children Julie Medina, husband Robert Medina, Raul Torres Jr., wife Alicia Torres, Leticia Torres and Cristina Torres; grandchildren Justyna Torres, Joseph Medina, Julia Medina and Evania Kross, husband Brad Kross; her siblings Maria Elena Reyes, Jose Martinez as well as many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Hilaria and Jesus Martinez, brothers Manuel Martinez, Jesus Martinez, Gregorio Martinez, Gonzalo Martinez, and Jesus Yescas.
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