Obituary of M. Theresa Martinez

March 22, 2010 Gifted Educator M. Theresa Martinez, Dini, age 62, of Fairfield, passed away March 22, 2010 at St. Vincents Medical Center surrounded by her loving family. Theresa was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico to Miguel and Maria Martinez. Theresa is pre-deceased by her father. Theresa was a gifted educator, both as an Elementary School teacher for almost 20 years, and as a Principal for over 10 years. She retired as principal from Pumpkin Delight School in Milford in 1999. As a dedicated and talented teacher and principal, Theresa was well loved by her students and colleagues alike. Theresa graduated from Sacred Heart University with a Bachelors Degree in English, from Southern Connecticut State University with a Masters Degree in Education, and from Sacred Heart University with a 6th Year Degree in Educational Administration. Theresa loved to play music, to sing and dance, and to write poetry. She loved to travel, attend opera, ballet, and theatre and she was a film officiando. Theresas courage and strength in the face of 30 years of illness battling lupus, kidney failure, and cancer was an inspiration to all who knew and cared for her. Theresas greatest gift to all who knew her was her generous and loving heart. Theresa was an extraordinary person and her loving spirit, quick wit, and deep spirituality indelibly marked the lives of many family and friends. Theresa is survived and mourned by her lifetime and beloved friend Michelle Loris and her partner Victoria, and their two sons, Sal and Nick who are Theresas godsons; by her mother, Maria; by her sister Olga Vitale and her husband, Tom and their children, JoAnna and her husband Jack Goncalves, Thomas Jr. and Christopher; by her sister Micky Kollar and her husband, Bob and their children Keith and his wife Mina, Kipp and his wife Mary, and Kim Wood and her husband Jeff; by her sister Jackie Unger and her children, Joshua, Jennifer, and Sean and his wife Sayard; and by several grandnieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 26, 2010 at 10 a.m. meeting directly in The Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Ave. Fairfield. Interment will be private. Friends and family may call on Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull. Funeral Information In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Theresas name to the Lupus Foundation, 270 Farmington Ave., Suite 218, Farmington, CT 06032, the National Kidney Foundation, 2139 Silas Deane Highway, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or the Norma F. Pfriem Cancer Center, c/o Bridgeport Hospital, 267 Grant St. , Bridgeport, CT 06610.