Martha Teresa Angel
Martha was born at cottage hospital in Santa Barbara to Ramon and Teresa Angel. She is the 7th of 8 children and grew up on Kimball Ave. on the Eastside of Santa Barbara. Martha was a 2nd generation native of Santa Barbara, and she attended Franklin Elementary and Santa Barbara Junior High. She moved from Santa Barbara at an early age and started a family of her own. After several years she returned to Santa Barbara with her children and remained there to live a very full life in the community. Martha worked at quick response and also had a long career of 27 years with the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara where she worked her way up from doing filing, to maintenance and later became a Case Worker. She loved her work and the people she worked with became a second family.
She was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in 2019 and fought hard for many years but she never let it break her spirit, faith and hope. Per her wishes she passed away peacefully in her home where she was surrounded by many of her loved ones. Martha always had an infectious positive attitude throughout her battle with cancer and never let the Cancer define her. Throughout her battle she enjoyed many vacations including Hawaii, Bahamas, Alaska, Mexico, Tennessee, and Atlanta Georgia to name a few. She was also a thrill seeker who did skydiving, zip lining, swam with dolphins, roller coasters and much more. If you knew her, you’d know that she was a prankster and always loved a good laugh. She managed to impact so many people’s lives in so many ways. Martha would always put her family first. She came from a large and extended family and was very much like her mother, Teresa Angel, who was a well respected and admired teacher who taught at Franklin and McKinley Elementary schools.
Despite many obstacles, and being a single parent, Martha had a fierce spirit and accomplished so much in her 63 years of life. She considered herself a cancer thriver not a survivor. She lived life to the fullest and on her terms. She did not allow the illness to define her or limit her and was an inspiration to many others. She was a good mother, a loving grandmother, a dear relative, a trusted friend, and so much more. She was a social butterfly who loved people, parties, dancing, karaoke, the casino and more. She loved making flower arrangements, and taking flowers to her relatives at the cemetery every Sunday. She would also take flowers to senior centers at Housing to brighten their day. She especially enjoyed decorating for Halloween and attended Fiesta events each year. Martha, like her mother Teresa, loved Bingo and would frequently visit the Chumash Casino where she was well known and loved. Big wins were frequent and she often shared the wealth. She enjoyed watching boxing and Football and was an Eagles fan like her mother. She loved cooking and her specialties were pozole, tamales and her famous fish tacos. Martha loved being the center of attention but did it in a very humble way. “Above and Beyond” was her way and she believed in people even if they didn’t believe in themselves. She opened her doors and her heart to her brothers Ramon and Luis and stood by their side until their passing. Martha had a beautiful smile and an incredible sense of humor. She had a deep faith and gave all credit to God. Her favorite karaoke song was “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. When her 6 children were young she would find a way to take them to Disneyland every year even if it meant fundraising by selling confetti eggs, mistletoe or paper flowers. She loves her grandchildren and would take them to hotels with pools, amusement parks, parades, vacations and so much more. She never missed a sporting event, birthday party or any of her grandkids events. She loved gathering with family for the holidays to celebrate and play games. She was a wonderful grandmother and would always make each grandchild feel special and loved. She felt fortunate to have them all living close by and would visit them often.
Martha is preceded in death by her parents; Ramon Zarate, Teresa Angel and brothers; Pantaleon, Ramon Jr., Luis, and Alphonso. She is survived by her siblings; Clara, Robert, Jesus and by her children Monica, Patty, Martha, Jessica, Angie and Carlos as well as her 17 grandchildren, 3 heavenly grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Not to forget her faithful dog Bootsie Girl.
We’d like to give a special thanks to Cottage Hospital Staff, Ridley tree, Santa Barbara Housing Authority ,Pueblo Del Rey Funeral Services, and all the people who loved and supported our mom. We will all miss her so much and life is never going to be the same without her.
We can only try to live our lives to the fullest as she did.
Services will be held at Saint Raphael Catholic Church – 5444 Hollister Ave. Santa Barbara, CA Rosary will take place Wednesday, September 4th 2024 at 7:00pm Funeral Mass will take place Thursday, September 5th 2024 at 10:00am Burial to follow mass at Calvary Cemetery on Hope Ave.