On Sunday, July 31st, Josephine (Granny) Martinez, age 91, was called home by God, surrounded by her loving family . Josephine was born to Alex Sandor and Catherine (Pavlik) Yaczko. Granny worked as a draftsperson for Standard Oil Company (now Exxon Mobil) until she married Joseph Martinez at Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. Together they had four children. For years, Granny worked at Ludwig’s Restaurant on Wallace Street in Red Bank as a cashier. She was very active in her community and was recently recognized for over fifty years of service in the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Red Bank Fire Department. She also served on the Advisory Board of the Red Bank Senior Center, volunteered at the Church of the Nativity and was a long-time member of the Shrewsbury Homesteaders. Granny and Pop enjoyed traveling together as well as spending time with family and friends.
Granny was predeceased by her husband Joe; her brother Stephen Yaczko; sisters, Francis Wickersty, Ann Flynn and Kathryn Leck; and her grandson Stephen LaCosta. She is survived by her sister Dorothy Fekety, son, Alex Martinez and daughters, Diane Zalewski, Nancy Martinez and Susan Lydakis; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, August 3rd at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, August 4th at 10 a.m. the Church of the Nativity, 180 Ridge Rd, Fair Haven, NJ 07704. Granny will be laid to rest with her husband in a private service at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Granny would appreciate donations be made to one of her favorite charities at the Saint John's Church who supply meals to the poor. Donations may be sent to Saint John's Feed the Hungry Church, 22 Mulberry Street, PO Box 200147, Newark, NJ 07102.
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