Surrounded by loved ones, Maria F. Medina, 91, passed away peacefully at her home in Burien, WA on Sunday, March 30, 2014; one day before the 15th anniversary of the death of her husband Filiberto Medina, whom she married on September 25, 1944.
Maria was born in Huancayo, Junin, Peru on October 13, 1922. Devoted to her Roman Catholic faith, Peruvian culture, and helping the poor, Maria worked and volunteered at numerous organizations including El Centro de la Raza, as a counseling assistant and clothing store manager as well as aided the Council for the Spanish Speaking; AIPEUC Peru; the newspaper La Voz; St. Vincent de Paul; Harborview Medical Center; and served as a eucharistic minister for 29 years.
In 1978, Maria helped initiate the celebration of the Peruvian religious holiday honoring the Señor de los Milagros (Our Lord of Miracles), in Seattle. Commemorated through a Mass and Procession, it was first held at Blessed Sacrament Church. She founded the Seattle chapter of La Hermandad del Señor de los Milagros (Brotherhood of Our Lord of the Miracles) to help Catholic churches in Seattle and the surrounding Puget Sound region observe the ceremony annually. Since then it has been held at St. James Cathedral, St. Mary’s and Holy Family Roman Catholic Church among others.
In June of 1983, Maria founded Club Peru with the purpose of bringing solidarity among Peruvians in the community. With help from family and friends, she represented Peru at the annual World Festival organized by the Ethnic Heritage Council for several years. Known for her work in the community, the Consulate of Peru requested her assistance in 1983 to lead a committee providing disaster relief and aid to those affected by the heavy rains in the North-end area of Peru. She was awarded for her service to the Pacific Northwest community by the Ethnic Heritage Council, Club Peru and AIPEUC (International Association of Peruvian American & Canadian Organizations) Peru Puget Sound.
Maria was an artist and craftswoman, writer, poet, and a skilled seamstress and tailor. Her mediums of choice were varied, from ceramics to looming, knitting, crocheting and leatherworking.
She will be dearly missed by her 12 surviving children Blanca Rioja of Lima, Peru; Filiberto Medina, Jr. of Queens, NY; Gladys Diaz of Burien, WA; Ines Medina of Seattle, WA; Isabel Simpson of Burien, WA; Luis Antonio Medina of Union City, NJ; Manuel Medina of Seattle, WA; Irma Galloso of Seattle, WA; Mabel Manyari of Burien, WA; Carmela Paul of Burien, WA; Maritza Sprague of Burien, WA and Haydee Ruiz of Burien, WA; 39 grandchildren; 42 great grandchildren and 10 surviving brothers and sisters residing in Lima and Piura, Peru.
A Wake will be held from 2pm – 5pm, Thursday, April 3, 2014, at Yarington Funeral Home in White Center and a Funeral Service will be held at 11am, Friday, April 4, 2014, at Holy Family Roman Catholic Parish, with a Viewing from 10am-11am. A Funeral Procession to the Committal Service at Holyrood Cemetery to follow immediately after Mass. A Reception will take place at Christ the King Church at 4pm. All these events are open to the public. Floral tributes are graciously accepted.