Zelica Martucci

Zelica Rosa Josefina Oderiz de Martucci (known to family and friends as Zelica) lived with warmth, courage, and a tireless devotion to her loved ones. Born in Gualeguay, Argentina on February 20, 1957, she moved to Tampa in 1978 while seven months pregnant, determined to build a future for her growing family.

Zelica met life’s challenges with quiet strength. Arriving in a new country without fluency in English and with limited means, she held a supervisor role at Lighthouse for the Blind and worked as a cashier at La Teresita while supporting the family’s entrepreneurial ventures. Together with her husband Felipe, she helped found and sustain several small businesses and managed real estate holdings — work she approached with loyalty and resolve.

Above all, Zelica treasured family. She was a devoted mother to her daughter, Luana Martucci de Palomá, and a proud nona to granddaughters Sasha and Lorena Palomá. Family gatherings, shared meals, and cheering at recitals and school events brought her the greatest joy. Her smile and infectious laugh were hallmarks of her presence — the kind of warmth that drew others close and made ordinary moments feel celebratory.

Zelica was remembered by those who knew her as fearless, generous, and fiercely loving. She maintained close ties to siblings in Argentina and Tampa and remained actively involved in honoring the memory of her late son through the Lawrence A. Martucci Benefit, Corp. Her faith and community connections were reflected in the funeral Mass held at Nativity Catholic Church and her burial at Serenity Meadows.

Her family and friends recall Zelica for her hospitality, her love of dancing, and the simple pleasure she took in feeding and gathering her family. Though her passing on August 14, 2024 was unexpected, the imprint of her laughter, devotion, and generosity endures in the hearts of those she loved.

In lieu of flowers, her obituary notes donations to the Lawrence A. Martucci Benefit in her honor. Zelica is survived by her daughter Luana; son-in-law Alexander Palomá; granddaughters Sasha and Lorena Palomá; sisters Estela, Sonia, Claudia, and Veronica Oderiz; and brothers Hector, Javier, and Adrian Oderiz. She was predeceased by her son Lawrence A. Martucci and sister Adriana Oderiz.