Born Jean Michele Liles, Michele was born in Pomona CA, although to all her school friends, she joked about being born in Chino Prison. Michele lived in various parts of the country, including Hawaii, Oklahoma, Los Angeles and of course the Fallbrook, Temecula and Rainbow communities.

The eldest of 10 children, she spent most of her adolescence in Rainbow, CA, graduating from Fallbrook H.S. In the late 60's Michele moved to Los Angeles, CA, to live with her cousin, where she met her future husband and lifelong companion, Juan Martinez. They married shortly afterward and began a family of their own. Family being the most important thing to her, she dedicated her life to raising her three children.

More important than the history of Michele's life, is who she was as a sister, wife, mother, aunt, friend and caregiver. Nothing about Michele was pretentious, conventional, or boring. Michele lived a colorful life filled with humor, love, and devotion to others. She was the matriarch of both hers and her husband's family.

This colorful woman was passionate about loving everyone and sensitive to the needs of others. Whenever you were feeling down, Michele was always there to pick you up and make you smile. She would offer advice, had a strong sense of fairness and would do anything to defend you.

Any person who came in contact with Michele was witness to her humor and wit, and not immune to her honesty, bluntness and her inability to resist making you blush.

Her talent for singing and love of music blessed all those in her presence. Whether cleaning in her kitchen, strolling down the aisle of the grocery store, entertaining her husband or waking her children she found peace in expressing herself through music.

Her memorable Christmas and holiday dinners were the foundation of our family traditions and gatherings. We will greatly miss our dear mother and expect that she is in heaven preparing the table for our return to her.