Maribel Hernandez-Green

Maribel Hernandez-Green, age 59, died unexpectedly in her Kent, Washington home on February 8, 2017. 

Maribel was born Mario Hector Hernandez on March 5, 1957, in Toppenish, Washington to Cesareo and Martina Hernandez.  Maribel had a life-long love of the traditions of family, faith and culture, taking great pride in the personal history of both sides of her family tree and celebrating the food, music, dance, art, writing, and many other contributions of her ancestors.

Throughout her life, Maribel was devoted to causes of social justice and equality, working both personally and professionally to promote care for people of color and underserved populations. Whether working at the People of Color Against Aids Network, King County’s Public Health Clinic, the Seattle Indian Health Board, or for Dr. Rob Killian, M.D., Maribel found a way to make everyone she encountered feel welcome and cared for.  Maribel’s life was an inspiration to many, and those who knew her knew what it was to feel unconditional love in her presence. Maribel had a special place in her heart and home for her dogs, which were often small elderly dogs with large personalities. She will be deeply missed and always remembered. 

Maribel’s life and memory would be honored by any act of kindness extended into the world, and especially acts that aim to tip the scales of justice towards equality and inclusion for all. If you wish to send donations in lieu of flowers, here are a few organizations doing good work in the world that Maribel herself would have supported:  United Farm Workers, PBS, Old Dog Haven, Southern Poverty Law; Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Maribel was preceded in death by the love of her life, Bill Green; her father, Cesareo Hernandez; by her paternal grandparents Magdaleno and Altagracia Hernandez (nee Chavez), by her maternal grandparents Felix and Elizenda Medina (nee Alegria), and by many cousins, aunts and uncles. Maribel is survived by her mother, Martina Hernandez, of Yakima; her siblings, Caesar (Alice) Hernandez, of Renton; Ruben Hernandez, of Yakima; Arnold (Norma) Hernandez, of Toppenish; Reynaldo (Alicia) Hernandez of Kennewick; Sylvia (Francisco) Maltos, of Toppenish; Marina (Nina) (Frank) Salinas, of Kennewick; Delia (Jerry) Milden of Yakima; Mary Ellen Hernandez of Yakima; Felix (Karen) Hernandez of Yakima; and Angela (Mimi) Hernandez of Seattle, along with many well-loved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A memorial service and celebration of Maribel’s life is scheduled for:

Saturday, February 18, 2017

3:00pm-6:00pm

Columbia Funeral Home

4567 Rainier Avenue S.

Seattle, WA  98118

No celebration of Maribel’s life would be complete without good food, good music and story sharing, so we will gather for a comida after the service at this same location.