Martin Quinones-Caraballo Sr.

Martin Quinones-Caraballo Sr (1927 – 2025) passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by family.

A humble man with a lasting impact. Born one of 29 children to a farming family in Yauco, Puerto Rico. Hard working, he left school at 14 to work on the family farm.

Looking for more from life, he left for New York at the age of 18. Living in a boarding house and working as a janitor at Macy’s, he met the woman who would become his wife of nearly 60 years, Ernestina Moreno-Nieves.

Living in a Bronx apartment, they started their small family of three, daughters Awilda and Sylvia followed by their son Martin Jr. A devoted father and husband, he demonstrated the family values so import and endearing to him, hosting several sisters as they followed him to New York. During this time, he was also active in the community and church as an usher.

After nearly two decades in New York, he returned to the island with his young family to take over his father-in-law’s corner store in Santa Isabel. He worked hard and encouraged his children to focus on their education and exceed his own humble start.

In time, he saved enough to buy land and build a new home near his ancestral home of Yauco. On this small homestead he planted fruit trees and raised produce, goats, cattle, and chickens to provide for his family and share with others. From here he sent his children on to college to get the education he so strongly desired for them. They all succeeded, obtaining multiple post graduate degrees and certifications. His children’s accomplishments brought him great pride.

As the kids moved to the states to start their careers and families. This gave him the opportunity to do something else that he also loved – travel. He and mom never missed an opportunity to visit them and his siblings over the United States – New York, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska, to name a few, as well as going to Canada and Mexico for fun and relaxation.

With time, as he got older, once again he found the need to leave the island, this time to be closer to his children and three grandchildren whom he adored. He and Ernestina found a comfortable home in Elk Grove, CA and lived there for their final years teaching the grandchildren the nuances of dominoes. At 96, he moved one last time to Washington State where his children could collectively care for him. It was here, a year later, he passed peacefully surrounded by family.

He is survived by his brother Librado Quinones, his daughters Awilda Jesionowski, Sylvia Banzon, and his son Martin Quinones Jr. He has three grandchildren Steven Jesionowski, Danene Bourne and Natasha Quinones.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Martin on March 17th, 11am at St Gabriel Catholic church in Port Orchard, WA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation online to the St. Anthony Hospital General Fund at the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Foundation –

https://connect.virginiamasonfoundation.org/vmfh-donation. Please make sure to select St. Anthony Hospital by choosing “St. Anthony Hospital General Fund” from the Designation drop down box.

At the bottom of the page, in the Tribute Information section:

Tribute Type – Select ‘in memory of’

Tribute First Name – Enter ‘Martin’

Tribute Last Name – Enter ‘Quinones’

Thank you for your support and prayers during this time.