Petra Molina

July 4, 1946 - September 19, 2020

Petra Molina, 74, passed away September 19, 2020 at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She was born in Robstown, Texas on July 4, 1946. She attended Texas A&I University in Kingsville. She went on to teach at St. Anthony’s Elementary School in Robstown, Texas until she moved to Columbus, Ohio in June of 1978. She continued teaching as a substitute teacher and library worker at St. Matthias Elementary School in Columbus. She eventually found what she truly loved doing; taking care of “her babies,” first in her family home and then in 1990 as a teacher at Play & Learn Christian Childcare Center, where she worked for the next 27 years. She became one of the most trusted and loved childcare providers at Play & Learn, where the number of children she nurtured was extensive and she remembered and kept pictures and gifts from everyone. An avid sports fan, she loved watching “her” Ohio State Buckeyes (OH…), Cleveland Indians & Cavaliers and of course, the Dallas Cowboys. It was not unusual to find her at home watching a re-airing of a Buckeye game from the past and still cheering just as loud. But nothing brought her more joy than watching her grandsons play sports; her favorite being baseball and she spent many hours at Academy Park in Gahanna, Ohio or traveling around Ohio to watch them play in tournaments. She was a great cook making many Mexican meals that everyone loved. She loved baking and would have an annual Christmas cookie baking day with her daughter and grandsons. She had an amazing green thumb, often growing plants from the smallest of clippings. She loved country music and could often be found in on her patio listening to some of her favorites. She was a kind and loving soul and always put others first. There was not a person who met her that she did not have an impact on, from friends and family to her co-workers whom she often took under her wing. She had a great sense of humor and thought nothing of breaking into dance or song to entertain her babies or family. She had a special way of understanding the mind of a child and communicating with them at their level. She loved shopping and getting a great deal often using her favorite phrase from a close friend “can’t go wrong.” She was full of life and her energy and smile will be missed by all. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Rudy Molina; her two children, Darcel (Kyle) Day and Rudy Molina Jr; three grandsons, Alex, Ethan and Max Day; her two sisters, Alicia Martinez and Mary Elvia Cardenas; many beloved nieces, nephews and great nieces & nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Manual & Estefana Martinez and her brother, Manuel “Bro” Martinez. There will be a private family memorial service on Friday, September 25th at Gethsemane Lutheran Church. starting at 5:30 PM. It will be live streamed at the following link https://youtu.be/HwFQVrdvsVY A visitation open house will be held at the Day Family home at 294 Harrow Blvd Gahanna, Ohio on Saturday, September 26th starting at 2:00 PM.