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FORT EDWARD

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Awilda Veronica Martinez (Luciano) 75, on Friday March 15, 2024 at the Fort Hudson Health Systems. She was lovingly known as Mommy, Mom, Mema, Grandma, Titi, and Ronnie.

Born August 22, 1948 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, she was the third born child to the late Ana Delia Rivera and Sigfredo Martinez. In 1951 her family emigrated from Puerto Rico, settling in the Lower East side of Manhattan NY, where she grew up.

At the age of 18, she graduated from CUNY as a Registered Nurse. She started her nursing career at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, where she met the love of her life, Richard. She later decided to work with the elderly at the East Gun Hill Road Nursing Home and Woman’s circle nursing home in the Bronx. She decided to go down a different career path and became Director of Environmental Services, where she worked for San Souci Nursing Home and eventually moved to Phelps Memorial Hospital where she stayed for 14 years. She later retired from Lenox Hill Hospital due to health problems.

Everyone who knew Awilda knew her love for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She would do anything for those she loved and cared for, especially her family. She loved to dance, and whether it was a party or at a wedding, she was always on the dance floor. Her other hobbies included reading, visiting bookstores nearly every weekend, going to operas, The Bronx Zoo and the Botanical gardens as well as watching The Yankees. She was also very proud of her Spanish ancestry and heritage; being fluent in both Spanish and English.

In addition to her mother and father, Awilda is predeceased by her sister, Delia Teresa Martinez, and the love of her life Richard Luciano.

Left to cherish her memory include her brother, Luis (Maria) Martinez, her children, Michael Thiessen, Kari (Eric) DesRosiers, Jennifer (José) Luciano-Balbuena, and Megan (Kathryn) Menezes. In addition, she was a bonus mom to Therese Luciano, Thomas Luciano, Michael Luciano & Ronald Luciano. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Kathryn (Spencer) Healey, Zachary Bailey, Spencer Thiessen, Andrew Balbuena, Nicholas Balbuena, Sophia Thiessen, Delia, and Sydney, her great-grandchildren; Luke, Grayson, Landon & Logan. She was known as Grandma Ronnie to Rebecca, Dylan & Samantha.

Friends and family may call from 3 to 5pm on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home 82 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828.

A funeral service will be conducted at 5pm at the funeral home.

Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Memorial donations in Awilda’s memory can be made to Juvenile Diabetes Cure Alliance, 129 E. 61st St., New York, NY 10065.