Martha Martinez

Martha Martinez born 7/17/1928 passed away four days short of her 91st birthday in Santa Fe, NM. She was born in Los Luceros, NM to Seferino Salazar and Candelaria Gallegos Salazar. She grew up on a small farm in a large family consisting of her parents and fourteen siblings. She attended Alcalde Elementary. It was in Alcalde that she met her newly widowed husband, Roman Martinez, Sr. who came from Abiquiu, NM. She and Roman married in 1946. She gave birth to seven children with Roman who already had four orphaned children from his marriage to Juliana Martinez. Together they sent ten of their eleven children to McCurdy High school with nine graduating. She had various jobs in her lifetime but worked the longest “cleaning houses” in White Rock and Los Alamos, NM. She drove there every day in what her children referred to as the “green bomber” station wagon picking up “riders” from Alcalde, San Juan, Ranchitos, Espanola, Chimayo, and Cordova. A lot of these riders were family and others became lifelong friends. She had a great sense of humor, loved working on jigsaw puzzles, pinon picking, watching her favorite soap operas, listening to KDCE, socializing at the casino, visiting her elderly neighbors in Alcalde, and attending her children, grandchildren’s and greatgrandchilden’s sports activities, Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Seferino and Candelaria Salazar; her husband’s parents, Patricio and Elviria Martinez; her husband Roman Martinez, Sr.; her daughter, Lorraine Martinez Sattler; son-in-law Louie Sattler, her son Patrick by her husband’s first wife; grandson Danny Martinez, nine brothers, Leandro, Bernardo, Juvencio, Bernardo “Gito”, Teodoro, Seferino, Jr., and Filadelphio; six sisters, Elisa, Maria Candelaria, Sylveria, Eloisa (twin), Mercedes (twin), Angelina; her sisters-in-law, Edna, Lillie, Elda, and Orlinda, and her brothers-in-law, Jose Roman Martinez I, George Maestas, as well as numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and in-laws. She is survived by her children: Roman Martinez, Jr. (Lupe), Seferino Martinez, Sandra Hull (Larry), Lucille Martinez (Charles), Doris Griego (Mike), and Robert Martinez (Patricia); her children by her husband’s first wife, Juliana: Betty Norris (Randy), Julia Hills (Gerard), Michael Martinez (Rita); grandchildren Christina Martinez, Sam (Celinna) and Brandy Garcia, Desirae Kovacich (Nikolas), Jennifer Sanchez, Jessica, John Robert and Eli Martinez, great-grandchildren Gabriel, Marlow, Meghan, Liam, and Max, her sister-in-law, Edna Sanchez, numerous nephews, nieces, step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren. The family would like to express our thanks and appreciation to her son-in-law Charles Martinez, her dedicated caretaker; Betty & Randy Norris for checking on her on a daily basis in Alcalde; Jennifer Sanchez for assisting with the care taking; Angelina Montoya for her daily visits, Kathy & Randy Maestas who would do handyman jobs for her at her home in Alcalde; Randy Maestas, Jr. who would regularly take his grandmother, Angelina, and great-aunt Martha to the senior center and to the casino; beloved nephew Phil Salazar who was a faithful visitor, lunch partner, and with whom she shared much laughter when she lived in Alcalde and in Santa Fe; Amigos del Valle and past staff member Debra Borrego who were instrumental in allowing Martha to live independently in her home for as long as she did; Dr. Michelle Carr, and Dr. Garamella for their support and assistance in caring for mother’s medical needs; Del Corazon Hospice past and present staff: Dr. Kathleen Maley, Tina Marie Gonzales-Probst, Mary Winterdoran, Robert Mares, Judy Hurula, Raye Hyland, Jacob Gonzales, Betty Lou Lujan, Don Boaz, Hampton Mabry, Zoe Van-Kaan, Meaghan Nugent, and volunteer Sharon all who provided much appreciated end of life care the past couple of years. Pallbearers: Romie Martinez, Jr., Larry Hull, Mike Griego, Randy Norris, Sam Garcia, and Phil Salazar. Honorary Pallbearers: Christina, Brandy, Desirae, Jennifer, Jessica, John Robert, Eli and Arturo Maestas.

Services will  be held at Rivera Family Funeral Home in Espanola.

Wednesday July 17th there will be viewing for family, friends, and public at 6:00 PM with a service at 7:00 PM

Thursday July 18th there will be a memorial service at 10:00 AM with Interment to follow at La Loma Vista Cemetery in Alcade.