Carmen Helena Martinez

Carmen Helena (Melena) Martinez, 74, of Davie, FL, died August 3, 2019, with her family by her side.  Melena was born July 22, 1945, in Boston, MA to Hugo Perez La Salvia and Carmen Ayala de Perez and was the oldest of 10 children. She lived most of her childhood in Caracas, Venezuela where she attended school at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. In 1964 her family moved back to Boston, MA, where she met Ricardo Martinez and fell in love. In 1967 they were married in Caracas and started their life together back in the Boston area. They were married 52 years, raised 4 children and lived in Peabody, MA, Caracas and eventually settled in Davie, FL for the last 26 years.  One of Melena’s proudest moments was when she returned to school and received her Bachelors degree in Social Work at Salem State University, graduating summa cum laude. Melena dedicated her life to helping people and improving the lives of others in her work at North Shore Catholic Charities in the Boston area, Jewish Family Services in Miami, FL and in the Head Start program for Broward County Public Schools. She also spent countless hours volunteering at St. John the Baptist Church in Peabody and HOPE Outreach Center in Davie, FL.  She is survived by her husband, Ricardo Martinez, daughter, Laura Martin of Newburyport, MA; daughter, Beatriz Harley and her husband Richard of Winchester, MA; son, Ricky Martinez and his wife Andrea of Bradenton, FL; daughter, Cristina Hines and her husband Michael of Davie, FL; 10 grandchildren: Amelia, Matthew and Juliana Martin; Corina, Cristian and Derek Harley; Jordan and Haylee Martinez; and Maxwell and Benjamin Hines. She is also survived by eight brothers and sisters, 28 nieces and nephews and many cousins and friends.  She always had words of wisdom during times of trouble, she was a rock we could lean on, she was a beacon when we found ourselves lost. She was a dedicated mother, a loving and loyal wife, and an exemplary daughter and sister. We will miss and love her always…  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Carmen's memory to HOPE Outreach Center, Inc., 4700 SW 64th Avenue, Suite A, Davie, FL 33314 (954)321-0909 http://www.hopeoutreachfl.org  The family will receive friends Friday, 9:00 - 10:30 am at T. M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home 7001 Northwest 4 Street Plantation, FL.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, 11:00 AM at Saint David Catholic Church, 3900 S. University Dr. Davie, FL  Interment will follow at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, FL  Arrangements by T. M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home, 7001 Northwest 4 Street, Plantation, Florida 33317 954-587-6888 www.tmralph.com   T