Sister Elena entered eternal life on April 19, 2025. In 2006, she received the medal of honor from the Archdiocese of New York for over 25 years of service in Religious Education, as well as the Terence Cardinal Cooke Award
Sister Elena Martinez of the Holy Eucharist, FMSC peacefully entered into eternal life on Holy Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Sister Elena (Jesusa Pereira Martinez) was born in Acchilla, Bolivia, on January 16, 1933, to Wenceslao Martinez and Elena Pereira. Sister was part of a large family, 10 brothers and eight sisters, and over 50 nieces and nephews.
In 1962, when our first four Sisters arrived in Bolivia, Jesusa was impressed by their spirit of dedication, self-sacrifice, and willingness to help the poor, so much so that in 1963 she joined them in Apolo. Sister Gabriel reminded her many times that she should not get her hopes up to go to the United States, but that was never her intention when she joined the convent. Six months after entering our community, Sister Elena was invited to join the formation community in Peekskill. Her “yes” brought her to Mt. St. Francis in September of 1963 to join the 20 postulants for her spiritual formation.
After her profession in 1965, Sister returned to Bolivia, taught school, and did mission work. Upon returning to Peekskill, Sister Elena was the Religious Education Coordinator at St. Patrick’s in Newburgh; 10 years later she continued her ministry at Our Lady of Victory in the Bronx, and later at Sts. Peter and Paul in Mt. Vernon. In 2006, she received the medal of honor from the Archdiocese of New York for over 25 years of service in Religious Education, as well as the Terence Cardinal Cooke Award.
During her later years, Sister Elena lived at Mt. St. Francis and was an active staff member. She also volunteered her time at Assumption Parish in Peekskill and St. Christopher Parish in Buchanan. Sister Elena loved life: helping people, music and dancing, crocheting, and making ordinary occasions a celebration of life. She went home to God quietly, and we now rely on her intercession for our needs.
Her wake was held in the Mt. St. Francis Chapel, 250 South Street, Peekskill, on Tuesday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to her funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. Interment took place at the Franciscan cemetery following her Mass.