Sergen Martinez

Sergen S. Martinez, 91, A resident of Sombrillo, NM and the original owner of the Espanola Stop and Eat Drive-In Restaurant, passed away on August 3, 2021.  Sergen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She was born June 17, 1930, in Coyote, NM, to Merejildo Valdez and Emelia Velasquez-Valdez. She had four brothers and two sisters whom she dearly treasured.

She has joined her husband, Eustavio (Gus) Martinez and other loved ones in their heavenly home. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Eustavio (Gus) Martinez; both her parents Merejildo Valdez and Emelia Velasquez-Valdez; mother-in-law Sidelia Martinez; father-in-law Guillermo Martinez; sister Avenilde Lopez; bother-in-law Joe Lopez; sister Josephine Martinez; bother-in-law Raymond Martinez; brothers, Pedro Valdez and Vidal Valdez; sister-in-law Polly Valdez; and sister-in-law Connie Valdez; and numerous beloved family and friends.

She was surrounded by her children, who deeply loved and cared for her.

She is survived by her four children, Elma Leyba (husband Jerry); William (wife Bernadine) Martinez; Abby (husband Richard) Catanach and Gerald (wife Becky) Martinez. She is also survived by her two brothers, Delfinio Valdez and Fermino (wife Julia) Valdez; sister-in-law Teresina Valdez; sister-in-law Dora (husband Leroy) Archuleta; sister-in-law Tillie Martinez; bother-in-law Phillip Martinez. She has 11 grandchildren, Amor Leyba, Jerin Leyba, Gus (wife Blanca) Leyba, Micaela (husband Anthony) Chavez, Jesse (wife Karissa) Martinez, Jenay (fiancé Josh) Catanach, Josh Catanach, Jerica (husband Neff) Malouff, Meg Martinez, Alec Martinez and deceased Johnathon Galvez, and two great grandchildren Josiah Leyba and Denise Martinez.

A public Visitation will begin on Friday, August 13, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home. A rosary will be recited on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, in Santa Cruz, with a funeral mass immediately following the rosary at 11: 00 a.m. with Father John Plans officiating. Burial will take place immediately following the mass at the Santa Cruz cemetery. Mass attendance will be limited to 150 people and masks will be required. The mass celebration can be seen on YouTube: Santa Cruz Parish Espanola.

The family of Sergen Martinez would like to thank Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service, especially Jack Allison and all the excellent care takers that helped Sergen and the family, Erlinda Machuca, Amor Leyba, Yvonne Martinez, Natalie Martinez, Ralph Dominguez, Andrew Sanchez, Greg Dickerson and Kevin Dickerson.

Serving the Martinez Family as Pallbearers are Amor Leyba, Jerin Leyba, Gus Leyba, Jesse Martinez, Josh Catanach and Alec Martinez.

Honorary Pallbearers are Josiah Leyba, Sam Martinez, Thomas Valdez, Andres Valdez and Jerome Valdez and Bobby Lopez.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SMDP Soup Kitchen, 216 SR399, Espanola, NM 87532, may be made in memory of Sergen Martinez. The family of Sergen Martinez has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley. 505-747-7477 or www.devargasfuneral.com

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