Connie Martin
Passed away on November 11, 2023, two weeks shy of her 83rd birthday.

Connie, born Maria Concepcion Velazquez, was adored by her family and treasured by all she met and touched with her sweet, gracious personality. She was the loving mother of Deanna Martin Mackey (Christopher Ingalls) and Dolores Roberts (Darryl). The lights of her life were her grandchildren, Maddie, Robert, Olivia, Cameron (Kristine), Colby, Baily, Summer and her great-granddaughter Charlotte. She will be dearly remembered and missed by her sister and brother-in-law Coco and Jim Dowell, her nieces and nephews Karen, Jimmy, Zach, Adam and Aaron as well as the Viales family and many extended family and friends.

A native of Rivas Nicaragua, she came to the United States at the age of 13 to attend the Catholic boarding school, Dominican (now San Domenico), in Marin County. She excelled at music and languages and following graduation she attended San Francisco State University studying education while working as a bank teller. It was at that job that she met Michael Thomas Martin, who pursued her until she agreed to a date, and they wed soon after. They were married for 56 years, until his passing in 2021. Connie and Mike started their life and family together in San Francisco, then moved to Petaluma in the late '60s where they lived for 50 years.

Connie worked as a Kindergarten bilingual aide at McNear Elementary and was credited for helping many children learn to read and master the English language. For years after her retirement former students would stop her in local stores to thank her and share their life stories. She was eternally grateful for the opportunity to become a US citizen and she was always looking for ways to give back. For years she volunteered at the food pantry, library and local schools. Annually she adopted a family to assist with food, school supplies and resources. A gourmet cook and entertainer, she loved to host lively parties with great food and drinks (martinis and margaritas were her favorites), she loved old movies and TV (especially Mayberry RFD and Everybody Loves Raymond), reading British mysteries and crossword puzzles, anything sweet and time with family.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, December 9th, 2023, at 11 a.m. at St. James Church in Petaluma followed by a Celebration of Life. In lieu of flowers, please make gifts in her name to St. Jude or KQED, she was a big fan of public media.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Petaluma Argus-Courier from Dec. 3 to Dec. 8, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Connie Martin

Sponsored by Featheringill Mortuary.

5 Entries

Colby

December 25, 2024

It´s Christmas currently and this was her favorite time of year I´ll never forget watching Christmas movies and going to Christmas stores with her it was her favorite thing to do besides cooking and the I love Raymond show. As a kid she used to tell me this story from when she was a child about how her dad put her favorite gum all over this tree at her house and he pretended it grew from there. She was truly the heart in our family. I love you grandma.

Coco Velazquez Dowell

December 8, 2023

I cannot believe my beautiful and dear sister, Connie, is gone forever, but I know she is finally resting in peace; free of the pain that she endured for so long. And now she is in heaven visiting with my parents and all three of them are enjoying being together again. She was my only sibling, but she was also my friend, my confidant, my counselor my ear and my shoulder. I will always remember her as a great mother, grandmother and great grandmother. I will always remember her and I will always carry her in my heart and in my soul. I love you and I miss you too much.
Your loving sister Coco

Mike Vail

December 6, 2023

I haven´t seen Mike, Connie or the girls since I moved away from the Petaluma neighborhood we all grew up in.

I lived diagonally across the street from them and I´m the same age as the girls.

Regardless of the time that has gone by since seeing the family, I have fond memories of them and will always remember how sweet Connie always was. I even worked for Mike for a few years while he was a foreman at City Transfer and Storage in San Francisco back in the early 80s. Mike was a tough boss and knew his stuff about moving companies around SF. I and other neighborhood kids grew up quick working for Mike back in those days.

To Deanna and Dolores, I´m sincerely sorry for the previous loss of Dad, and now your mom. They were both great people and raised two fine kids to be proud of. I´m sure they´re shining down from Heaven with pride in both of you.

My very best to you and yours.

Warmly,
Mike Vail - Formerly of
1130 Ramona Lane
Petaluma, Ca.

Karen

December 4, 2023

My beautiful Auntie Connie. You were the kindest, sweetest, most loving aunt anyone could have. We were the luckiest kids in the world to have you as our only aunt. Every so often, I think you are still in your house you loved so much and I want to stop by and see you but I cannot and that is the hardest reality to accept. I miss you so much and will love you forever.

Larry n Paula Roberts

December 3, 2023

Connie was a great lady and grandmother, she will be missed by all that knew her . RIP sweet lady .

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