Martha D. Pelaez

Martha Diaz Pelaez, age 83, passed away at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 22, 2016 after a courageous struggle with breast cancer. She was born on September 9, 1933 in Hondo, Texas to Bernardo Diaz and Maria Arcos Diaz before coming to Toledo, Ohio at the age of 15.

Martha was known for her beauty and style. At the age of sixteen she entered her photo for a national campaign to represent the Dr. Pepper soft drink company; her photo was selected as finalist. She was passionate about fashion; always dressed impeccably; and wore her signature hats for every life occasion. She spent her years before retirement working at the Lobby Shop boutique at the Bellagio, Las Vegas. Martha was a world traveler, having visited Spain, Mexico, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Netherlands with her son Roger; London, England to visit her daughter Guizelda and family; and as celebration to the end of her chemo treatment, to Chicago for a girl's weekend of shopping. Martha was a life-long Democrat who was proud of her campaign work for such notable Democrats as George Mc Govern and Hilary Clinton. For Clinton's 2008 campaign, she housed out-of-state campaign workers stationed in Las Vegas. In the 1970's she was appointed by Mayor of Defiance, Ohio to the Hispanic Commission of Community Relations affording the opportunity to help many community members with housing, voting and language access issues for medical emergencies or court cases. She was a person known for her keen sense of memory who enjoyed a good conversation engaging in Spanish or English about current or past events. She enjoyed growing her roses, dancing, shopping, going out to eat and watching Telenovelas.

She married John A. Guerrero on November 14, 1953, Toledo, Ohio with whom she had five beautiful children all raised in Defiance, Ohio.

Martha is survived by husband Hector Pelaez.

Her children Ricardo (Emily) Guerrero, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Adelina (Johnny) Barrera, Toledo, Ohio, Roberto (Syndi) Guerrero, Sylvania, Ohio, Guizelda (Joseph) Aversa, Centreville, Virginia, Roger (Randal Ricardi) Guerrero, Phoenix, Arizona. Grandchildren, Ricco Guerrero, Aaron Guerrero, Ursula Barrera-Richards, Vanessa de Leyvas Barrera, Amanda Barrera, Marissa Guerrero Elliott, John Guerrero, John Aversa and Joseph Aversa and Step-Grandchildren. Great Grandchildren, Avery Guerrero, Josefina Richards, Liam Elliott, Evelyn Guerrero, James Richards, Helena Guerrero, Ramiro Guerrero and Step-Great Grandchildren. Step-Children, Venus Pelaez, Christian Pelaez and Paula Pelaez. Siblings: Josefina (Arturo) Vara Castro, Houston, TX and Viviano Michael (Patricia) Diaz,
Point Place, Ohio. Special Best Friend, Belita Rigoli of San Bernardino, CA , and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by husband, Joseph Holquin; Siblings preceded in death Juanita (Margarito) Preciado, Lorenzo (Jo Ann) Diaz, Sandy (Jesus) Rodriquez, Dolores (Tony) Rodriquez.

A memorial mass will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 2255 Central Grove, Toledo, OH 43614 on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.. Family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. prior to mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Following mass a graveside prayer will be held in Ottawa Hills Memorial Park, Garden Building #2 NPB, 4210 West Central Avenue, Toledo, Ohio, 43606.

The family suggest sending memorial contributions in memory of Martha Pelaez to:

American Cancer Society and National Hospice Foundation.
Donate online at cancer.org
Donate by mail:
American Cancer Society
P.O. Box 22478
Oklahoma City, OK 73123
Donate by phone:
1-800-227-2345
Donate online at nhpco.org
Donate by mail:
National Hospice Foundation
P.O. Box 824401
Philadelphia, P.A. 19182-4401
Donate by phone 1-877-470-6472

Online condolences may be shared at www.davisfuneralservices.com

Arrangements are being made by Davis Funeral Homes and Memorial Park, 6200 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada 89119.

Family would like to thank Hospice of N.W.O. and Hospice Las Vegas, Nevada for the loving care they provided for our mother.