Barbara Martinez

Barbara Jean Martinez (Hofmeister), 1939-2023: passed away peacefully on October 20, 2023, at the age of 84. She was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota and spent most of her life in the surrounding area. Family was first and foremost in her life and she was dedicated to her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She was a strong woman and an inspiration to her family.

Barbara was known for her gardening skills, preparing fantastic meals for her large family, coloring artistry, patience, making up goofy nick names for her family, attending grandchildren's dance recitals, school plays and taking them out for Dairy Queen. She has strong ties to a musical family (Hugo and his brothers were in a band with Whoopee John); the Barbara Polka was named after her and performed by the Whoopee John band and others like the Frankie Yankovic band and Lawrence Welk band. She enjoyed steak and lobster, tacos, filet o' fish and chicken Chow Mein and Yarusso's spaghetti. She was kind to everyone and donated generously to many charities. She loved her pets. She enjoyed sports: baseball, football, and hockey. Knitted blankets and scarves for all of her family. Most importantly was the holiday season, she loved to decorate, and her home was filled with delightful lights and holiday decorations. Christmas was her favorite season to decorate and bake cookies.
Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, Peter; her mother, Katherine Hofmeister, her father, Hugo Hofmeister, daughter Kathy Sawka, grandson Ernie Sawka Jr, granddaughter Andrea Danielson and many other family and friends. She is survived by her children: Theresa and Larry Danielson, Pam and Bob Steffan, John and Karen Martinez, Connie and Kurt Weishair, Cindy and Tom Bourke, Vicky Nitti, and Pete Martinez. More than anything, she loved the family she raised and was so proud of each and every one of them.
Grandchildren: Peter, Ashley, Corissa, Tanya, Ernie Jr, Greg, Andrea, Justin, Amy, Maria, Michael, Nico, Amanda, Chelsea, Christopher, Salina, Dominic, and Nick. 

Great grandchildren: David, Ashlie, Jonathan, Gianna, Hannah, Eli, Bryson, Layla, Tayden, Ryker, Brayden, Brodey, Zaylee, River, Thorin, Evee, and Lance.
Great-great grandchildren: Bentley, Aiden, Sophia, and Logan.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to: Bonnie and Al Hanson next-door neighbors who treated her like she was one of their family members. And to all the comforting staff at the Our Lady of Peace (Hospice and Home Health Care facility) for all their care and compassion shown to Barbara in her time of need.
MOM - ALTHOUGH WE ARE APART, YOUR SPIRIT WILL ALWAYS LIVE WITHIN US, AND WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS.

A visitation will be held on Friday, October 27, 2023, at Mueller Funeral Home, 835 Johnson Parkway, Saint Paul from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. A private interment will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery where she will be laid to rest. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred and will be donated to Our Lady of Peace, in honor of Barbara Martinez.