Margarita Martinez

Margarita P. Martinez, 96,  was born on March 5, 1923 in Ranchitos de San Juan, New Mexico. She was the fourth child of thirteen born to Francisco & Eufemia Pacheco. Margarita lost her hearing and speaking abilities at a very young age, and as a result, she was educated at the Santa Fe School for the Deaf where she met and later married Victoriano Martinez on April 23, 1945. They had four children together, Margarito, Victor, Mary Ann, and Jake. She had 12 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

In 1973, Margarita began working at the Rancho de Chimayo, where she was employed as a cook until 1997. She really enjoyed her job working at the Rancho where she loved her co-workers and was equally loved by them.

Some of Margarita's favorite activities included visiting with her siblings, shopping (especially for Christmas and birthday gifts), working on sewing projects, solving word puzzles, and watching the hummingbirds buzz around outside her kitchen window.

The greatest gift Margarita ever gave was her love to her family and friends. She was the most loving, kind, compassionate, and caring person you could ever meet. She welcomed friends and family into her home and made sure they were fed or otherwise taken care of. At one point or another, all of her grandchildren and many of her great-grandchildren were able to stay with her and Victoriano after school or on weekends while they waited for their parents to pick them up after work.

Her daughter Mary Ann was her best friend and they were inseparable from very early on. Margaret and Victoriano relied on Mary Ann to interpret for them when visiting with company or for doctors’ appointments and such. Margarita’s family is certain that without the dedication, sacrifice, devotion and love that Mary Ann gave to Margarita on a daily basis, she would not have had such a long and happy life of 96 years. Mary Ann's care allowed her parents to live out their days in love and in dignity. On December 24, 2019, Margarita went to be with her Lord where she can hear the angels sing and she is now singing along with them. She was a devoted Christian and a long time member at Valley Bible Baptist Church. Because of her faith, Margarita received the greatest gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. We will miss you and forever hold memories of you in our hearts until we meet again.

Mary Ann was blessed to have help in caring for Margarita from her son Johnny, granddaughter Santanna, cousins Vera and Nancy, and her Tia Bennie. Thank you also to granddaughter Christine and her family for including Margarita in all their adventures. Thank you to Amber Care Hospice staff for their support. The family would like to thank all for their generosity and prayers. Public visitation will begin on Wednesday, January 1, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. at Valley Bible Baptist Church in Arroyo Seco, with a devotional service to follow at 7:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. also at Valley Bible Baptist Church, with a burial to follow at the El Guique Cemetery with the following serving the family as pallbearers Johnny Salazar, Curtis Aguino, Gino Martinez, Jon Luke Martinez, Joshua Garcia, and Nestor Martinez, honorary pallbearers named are Carlo Rey Martinez, Eli Garcia, Adrian Lopez, Dominic Aguino, Jeremy Martinez, and Thomas Martinez. The family of Margarita P. Martinez has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley. 505-747-7477-www.devargasfuneral.com