Zoetnil ‘Zoe’ Medina Martinez

Zoe was born December 3, 1951, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the daughter of Felix Medina Diaz and Elsie “Bolin” Martinez Rossy. She was a 1967 high school graduate of Colegio Santa Rita and attended The University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in secretarial sciences in 1969.

When she was younger, Zoe worked as a runway model and advertisement model. She eventually became the marketing director of Plaza Las Americas, the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean and the second largest in Latin America. Zoe then moved on to help the lives of many people through the work she did with Partnership for a Drug-Free Puerto Rico.

She eventually moved up to Houghton to be with her son, a Michigan Technological University graduate, and enriched the celebrations and events of the people in this area through her work with the floral department of Econo Foods.

Zoe had a strong faith and was a very spiritual person. She enjoyed learning and attending online conferences. She loved to read and has donated a sizable collection to the Houghton Library throughout the years. She enjoyed being active, and she did yoga and lifted weights regularly. Zoe was also an avid cheese connoisseur.

Zoe is preceded in death by her father, Felix; and her grandparents, Diego Martinez Quintero, Carmen Rossy Rodriguez, Felipe Medina, and Carmen Diaz, all of Puerto Rico.

Zoe is survived by her mother, Bolin; and her brother, Elton “Coqui” Medina Martinez, both of Bayamon, Puerto Rico; her son, Jose Cordero Medina; and her future daughter-in-law, Kirsti Wall, both of Houghton; and several cousins.

Her son and future daughter-in-law would like to thank all of the dedicated staff at Omega House, Dr. Clayton Charles, and the Aspirus Hospital team for the compassionate and wonderful care that Zoe received.

Per Zoe’s request, there will be no services. Burial was in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton.

Arrangements were handled by the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home of Hancock, Antila Funeral Service, Inc.