In Memory of Sister Mary Roberta Martinez

The words of Jesus were true of Olivetta, as Sister Mary Jordan said in her preaching. It was a new experience for the community, a funeral without a body. She had willed her body to science in 1973, but it came to most as a surprise. "Awesome," said one. "She was an artist," another recalled, as if to explain. Olivetta was sensitive, multi-talented, unique. Like so many Dominicans, she was first and last an individual.

The youngest of nine children, Olivetta grew up in rural Louisiana (Plaquemine, Bunkie). The family later moved to New Orleans where she attended St. Mary's Dominican Academy, finishing eighth grade and then graduating high school in 1924. She enrolled in "City Normal" where in two years she earned a lifetime certificate to teach in public school. Ever at home with the young, kindergarten would be her first choice.

From girlhood she had been active in scouting. She loved the outdoors and was a natural organizer, at ease in group activities. In 1928 she was named director of Girl Scouts in New Orleans for a three-year term. In June, 1931, she wrote to the Dominican prioress, Mother Mary Pius McMullen, asking for admission. "I have sweetest memories of my happy school days there... I can no longer resist the grace of God's goodness to me and ... implore you grant me the opportunity to give myself to the service of our Lord and answer 'I come.'" She was twenty-six.

As a postulant Olivetta taught seventh grade at St. Matthias, New Orleans. Recalled by a former student, who could not forget the black-bonneted postulants coming to teach: "She played ball with us!" In 1933 she professed vows, and as Sr. Mary Roberta was sent to Independence, Louisiana, to recover from lung congestion, and assigned to teach a class of fourth and fifth grades. She taught three years at St. Anthony, New Orleans, eight at St. Peter, Reserve, Louisiana, and one at St. Agnes, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In 1946 she was one of three missionary founders to begin a public school staffed by Catholic sisters in Lizana, Mississippi, serving there seven years. She went to Reserve one year, to Holy Ghost in Hammond, Louisiana, the next, returning to Lizana for four years. She was made superior/principal (teaching first grade) at St. Joseph, Paulina, Louisiana, for three years.

After a year at St. Matthias and four at St. Leo the Great, New Orleans, she asked to retire from teaching. From 1968 she worked in the library, audio-visual, and mailroom of St. Mary's Dominican College and made uncounted friends there. In 1970 she was featured in the Clarion Herald (Dec. 17, 1970) teaching in the Orleans Parish prison, one-to-one. At the college she tapped into her rich artistic talent, and produced watercolors that won her acclaim as "Dominican's Grandma Moses." In her "spare" time she had taught music, produced stage shows, dressed hundreds of dolls, founded the New Orleans Catholic Kindergarten Association (1962), volunteered for a new federal program called Headstart (1965), taken up yoga, and created countless objects of art and beauty which she gave away. She scattered joy. She taught many children through the years, but no less great was her teaching to those others she encountered from day to day. She taught any who would learn, the meaning of "pure of heart." For they shall see God.