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In memory of

Jewel Ann Martinez

San Leandro, CA, USA

July 14, 1954 - April 17, 2019

Jul 14, 1954 - Apr 17, 2019

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Jewel Ann Martinez, née Bocage, 64, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 after a courageous battle with cancer. She touched many lives with her passionate spirit, kind heart, and infectious laugh.

Jewel was born in San Francisco, California and raised in Oakland, California. She attended St. Elizabeth's Catholic High School, and earned her Associate's Degree from Vista Community College in Berkeley, California. Jewel worked in the transportation industry as a professional driver for many years, including driving interstate motor-coaches for Trailway's Bus Lines, and driving long-haul tractor trailers for North American Van Lines, where her CB handle was, tellingly, “Sunshine”. She eventually transitioned from transportation to the labor sector where she worked as a Legal Assistant to Administrative Law Judges with the US Department of Labor, where she ultimately retired.

Jewel was a die-hard sports fan, and she loved her Bay Area sports teams, including the Raiders, Warriors, A’s, 49’ers, and the Giants. She was equally passionate about disliking her teams’ rivals, especially the Cowboys and the Dodgers! She enjoyed traveling and meeting people from all walks of life. She was a surrogate mother to many, especially stray kids that Maya, Ramon, or her grandchildren brought home. Jewel had a deep affection for the silver screen and was serious about movie-watching. She listened to music of all types, and she loved to dance. She also enjoyed arguing, uh, debating about sports or politics. She was a gun enthusiast, although she probably should never have been allowed to own weapons, especially when arguing, uh, debating sports or politics. Jewel is survived by her loving son and daughter, Ramon Martinez and Maya Martinez-Garcia; son-in-laws Michael Brown, Anthony Garcia, and Jack Ghaith; grandchildren Brianna Snelgro, Dominic Snelgro, and Jacoub Ghaith; great-grandson Miles Murray; mother Marlene Whately; and sisters Marian Mixon, Cheryl Bocage, and Tiffiney Cunningham. She is preceded in death by her brother Paul Bocage and sister April Stewart.

Friends and family are invited to attend her celebration of life on Thursday, April 25, 2019, commencing with a viewing from 10-11am, funeral service from 11am-12pm, burial at 12pm, and a reception from 1-4pm. Food and refreshments will be served. All events are onsite at St. Joseph’s Cemetery and Funeral Center located at 2540 Church Ln., San Pablo, CA 94806. Telephone (510) 234-2012. Flowers can be sent to Jewel Martinez ℅ St. Joseph’s Cemetery and Funeral Center.

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