Gwendolyn Kay Monroe

Gwen passed away on November 12, at her home in Martinez. Gwen was born in San Jose, CA on a sunny day in August 1965 and is survived by her Mother, Donna Allen also of Martinez, father, John Burke and brother, Tim Burke both of Washington. Gwen is also survived by many other family members and more close friends than anyone could imagine…from grammar school, high school, Saint Mary's College, bocce, local businesses and politics, the Sturgeon baseball team, Martinez Horseman's Association, downtown Martinez, merchants, and all animals….dogs, cats, chickens, horses and various strays and pets. Gwen married Bruce Monroe on March 23, 1986 who passed in 1988 and then Glenn Greenwalt on November 6, 2002 who passed in 2021.

Gwen was a force to be reckoned with and devoted her life to her community, friends and family. She was the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year. She was an amazing artist. She painted, won sidewalk art competitions, created wonderful and personal decorative garden poles, built beautiful stone landscaping, did fabulous scary Halloween makeup and established Rankin the rock snake. She had a successful business downtown (Attic Child Furniture) bringing new life to old furniture and always had the rock painting station for the children. Gwen knew local politicians, celebrities and our local homeless by name. She was a wordsmith, a writer, a publisher, a poet and a novelist. Most of all she was a friend and she always had time for her mom. Gwen didn't have much but she would give the shirt on her back to anyone who needed it. Gwen was funny, fun, sweet, salty, drank, chewed, did swim aerobics and had the best laugh. She had an infectious personality, sharp wit, was intense, creative, direct, one of a kind and everything about her was bold, colorful and unapologetically Gwen. Gwen gave her time to the Martinez community without hesitation or ever needing a reason. She squeezed every drop of life out of her time here.

There will be a viewing at Inspiration Chapel, Oakmont Cemetery Sunday, November 30, from 2:00-5:00. Everyone is welcome. A graveside burial will follow later for family. There will be a Celebration of Life in downtown Martinez in conjunction with a First Friday (a downtown community event she co-founded) at a later date.