Batavia grandmother ID’d as lottery winner
By Linda Girardi For The Beacon-News January 15, 2013 9:44AM
A sign proclaiming the store sold the winning ticket hangs in the window of the 7-11 in Batavia on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 that sold the $7 million winning lotto ticket. | Brian Powers~Sun-Times Media
Updated: February 17, 2013 6:21AM
BATAVIA — A Batavia resident identified Wednesday as the winner of a $7.25 million lottery prize was “one of our regulars” at the Batavia convenience store where the ticket was sold, according to the store manager.
Ancelma Martinez was having breakfast with her husband at Lumes Pancake House in Batavia when she checked the winning Lotto numbers in the morning newspaper and realized she’d hit the jackpot, Illinois Lottery officials said.
“I almost spilled my coffee everywhere!” Martinez said.
Martinez won $7.25 million by matching all six numbers — 02, 15, 18, 23, 50 and 52 — in the Dec. 17 Lotto drawing.
Martinez said she has been playing one $2 Lotto ticket each week, “for many years.”
She bought her winning Quick Pick ticket at 7-Eleven, 336 E. Wilson St. in Batavia. The store will receive a $72,500 bonus, 1 percent of the jackpot amount, for selling a winning ticket.
“They are a very nice couple and they live in the neighborhood. We could not be happier for them,” 7-Eleven franchise owner Rickey Niedfeldt said.
“She wanted to keep a low profile, but she did want to let us know of her win and we respected her wishes. I sold her tickets numerous times — I think she was one of our regulars.”
Martinez and her husband have lived in Batavia for 33 years. They plan to share the windfall with their five children and six grandchildren. They also plan to pay off their house and car, and maybe go on vacation in Mexico.
Martinez elected to receive her prize in a one-time payment of $5,513,306, less required withholding, lottery officials said.
Martinez was the second person in 2012 to hit the jackpot in Batavia. A Batavia resident, who the Lottery identified only as James B., claimed a $3 million prize in a St. Patrick’s Day drawing in March. The ticket also was sold at a 7-Eleven — the store at 710 E. Fabyan Parkway.
