Mrs. Maurilia Blakely Ortiz (Armijo)

Mrs. Maurilia “Molly” Blakely age 87, ended her earthly journey Sunday, October 25, 2015, and now continues her journey now with her heavenly family. Surviving are: her children Adan (Don) (Terese) Armijo, Chris (Connie) Armijo, Arturo Armijo, Rebecca Armijo (Robert) Rowerdink, Beatrice (Bea Armijo) Meinke and Yolanda Peredes; grandchildren Andrea (Armijo) and Mike Brown, Mark and Tracey Armijo, Dominic Armijo, Andrew and Teresa Armijo, Anthony and Jelena Armijo, Alicia Armijo and Joshua Koleman, Lindsay Sund, Joshua and Brittnay Meinke, Martina (Armijo) and Justin Martinez, Melissa (Meinke) and Jayson Wicker, and William (Willi) Becker; great-grandchildren Jordan St. John, Zane and Maxwell Meinke, Tyson, Chase and Blakely Armijo, Devon and Donavan Sund, Michael and Emily Armijo, Reece and Lincoln Armijo, Olive Martinez, Sam Timothy. Maurilia Blakely Ortiz, or Molly, was born 1928 in Beeville, Texas. Her mother, Ophelia Ortiz, was of Mexican descent and her father, Arthur Blakely, was of an Irish descent. She had four siblings, Arturo, Rudolfo, Alicia and Carolina. Her mother passed away when she was 4 years old and her father died when she was 6 years old. Because of hard times during the Depression, there were few options for her and her siblings. She and her siblings were raised in a Catholic orphanage. A few years later, her mother’s sister, Virginia Presa, after raising her family of five, adopted Molly and her siblings. It was during these times, that Molly learned and appreciated the richness of her culture. As a Mexican-American woman, Molly’s Mexican traditions were an important part of her life. It was also a time when she learned the value of giving and helping others. At a relatively young age, Molly married Adan Armijo in 1946. By 1966, she found herself raising her 5 children: Adan, Cresencio, Arturo, Rebecca and Beatrice, alone and working full time at Kroger’s. Wanting her family members to take pride in their heritage, she became very active in the Hispanic community. In 1975, Molly became seriously ill from overwork. Under a doctor’s orders to rest, she took the opportunity to re-evaluate her life. She decided to finish her education and enrolled in night school to get her high school diploma. She continued on to Grand Valley State University. In 1979, Molly received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Counseling. “Going back to college at 47, helped me to find myself,” she says. “Sometimes, you grow up with a feeling that you should have done more but until my family was grown, I couldn’t finish my education. Going back to school not only helped me to help other people. Education is the key to everything.” She believes that, “education is what narrows the gap in the job market for women, therefore, it is in education that we should focus our attention. Despite how far women have come, we still have a lot to accomplish through education. She became a coordinator for the Neighborhood Education Center for the Latino Community where she assisted students with personal and educational issues. She also assisted in developing employment opportunities for young Hispanics and facilitated entrance into colleges and other training programs. It was at this time she adopted another daughter Yoland Rodriguez. Maurilia was one of the creators of the Hispanic Institute which offered Adult Education classes for Spanish speaking residents. She was the Emergency Shelter Director for the Catholic Human Development Office, working with the city’s homeless, and spent many weekends cultivating Hispanic women’s issues. Maurilia’s list of community service in Grand Rapids is substantial. She has been involved in Social Work, was the coordinator at the Hispanic Institute, translated for Mary Free Bed Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital, and the Department of Social Services, helped organize the first Mexican Festival, and coordinated the Casa La Paz, a homeless shelter, she was on the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council, the Grace Board, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Board, General Chairperson of the Mexican Cultural Petriotic Committee, LULAC. She has been the recipient of many deserving awards and recognition: 1981 Grand Rapids Hispanic Scholarship Fund – “Simpatica Award” 1982 Migrant and Homeless Families of West Michigan Founding Director Award “Casa de Paz” 1986 Michigan League of United Latin American Citizens Leadership Award 1990 The Latin American Services Leonard Ortega Award Honored for her positive contribution to the Latino community 1992 City of Grand Rapids Lifetime Achievement Award “Human Services Contribution” 1999 Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council Exhibit Ford Museum One of Twelve Outstanding Women of West Michigan, and the YMCA “Women in Changes” Award 2003 Grand Rapids Historical Commission Life Long Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation 2004 Mexican Heritage Association – Life Long Community Service Award 2005 Cesar Chavez Community Service Award She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Grand Rapids, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 11 AM and she will repose one hour prior. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive visitors Wednesday 6 to 8 PM and Thursday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM at the Arsulowicz Brothers Remembrance Mortuary, 3525 Remembrance Rd NW, where a Rosary will be prayed Thursday at 8 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions toward the Maurilia Blakely Scholarship at Grand Rapids Community College will be appreciated.

Tributes

Mrs. Maurilia Blakely Ortiz (Armijo)

September 19, 1928 - October 25, 2015