Belva B. Martinet

Belva Benita Martinet passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord on May 7, 2020, in Visalia, after battling cancer. Born on December 2, 1934 in Lafayette, Louisiana into a large and loving family, Belva moved to California at age 11 and attended Catholic school. She worked briefly for the telephone company before joining the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet - a congregation of religious women following the spirit of the foundation made in LePuy-Velay, France in 1650, and ever moving toward the profound love of God and love of neighbors without distinction. In the 1970’s she became an RN, beginning a career that would span nearly four decades and bless countless lives through tireless service. Belva worked at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, the Porterville State Hospital with severely disabled children, and then as a home health care nurse in Visalia. She had a natural ability to serve the most vulnerable with love and tender care. Rather than withdraw in hard situations, she leaned in and nurtured her patients. In the early 80’s she took (in her words) “the trip of a lifetime” traveling from New York to Paris, Lourdes, Nice, Rome, Vienna, Zurich, and Lucerne. She noted, “to take this trip was a dream come true,” and visiting the Vatican was one of the biggest highlights. She treasured St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, who believed that nature itself was the mirror of God. Like St. Francis, Belva had a heart for animals and cared for them over the years including her pet bird, Joey. Belva attended St. Mary’s church for the last 30 years and was a devout Catholic. She dedicated her life to serving and caring for others. She was extremely generous and found great joy in finding treasures at thrift stores that she could gift to others. Faithful in prayer, she routinely interceded for friends, family, and the world. At almost 85, Belva now joins her parents Clovis and Isaura (Zora) Martinet, and our Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven. She is survived by her four siblings and their spouses; John & Ginny Martinet of Avila Beach, Dolores & Larry Catalina of Avila Beach, Marie & Jesse Cox of Newbury Park, and Julie & Jorge Ramos of Visalia. “The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” ― St. Francis Of Assisi “Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received--only what you have given.” ― St. Francis of Assisi “Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” ― St. Francis of Assisi