Maria Obdulia Cartmill

Our mother, Maria Obdulia Ponce, sadly died on October 21, 2024. She was 85. She is survived by her three children, Dina Brown, Kent Zentner and Scot Zentner. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, Maria, Samantha, Zachary, Hannah and Benjamin. Mom was the youngest of five siblings. Millie, Frances and Lydia have passed; Ramonita is the last surviving of the sisters. Mom loved her many nieces, nephews and cousins as well, who we know mourn her passing with us. 

 

Mom was born in the small town of Isabella, on the island of Puerto Rico, to Laureano and Maria Ponce. Her mother died shortly after her birth. Mom married our father, Dale Zentner, who was a member of the U.S. Air Force stationed in Puerto Rico. The married couple moved to Loring Air Base in Maine, where Dina was born. While Dale later attended officer candidate school in Texas, mom stayed with his parents, Emil and Hazel Zentner, in Wisconsin, where Kent was born. The family eventually was stationed at March Air Force base in California, where Scot was born.

 

After her marriage to Dale, mom embarked upon a career as a social worker. She eventually rose to a supervisory role in the federal Extended Food and Nutrition Education Program, administered through the University of California. She was proud of her work, which provided guidance to lower income people to get the most out of their food dollar.

 

But mom’s choice of work only reflected her innate altruism. She was always active in the Church, often serving as a Eucharistic minister, bringing the Body of Christ to the sick and infirm. She was an unassuming person and did not have the easiest life. But she was elegant in her way. She was without malice, cared deeply for her children and family, and loved the Lord. We are heartbroken. But she is where she belongs, with the angels.