Bonnie Kathleen Martinez- Griffith

Bonnie Kathleen Martinez Griffith, 59, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2015 following a 9 year battle against early-onset Alzheimers. Bonnie will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved her. Bonnie was born and raised in Velarde, NM. She graduated from McCurdy School in 1973. She then spent the next 33 years living and raising her 3 children in the Española Valley. Bonnie was very involved in the Española Community. She worked as an Administrative Secretary at McCurdy School for 13 years. She sang in the Española Community Choir and led the Valley View United Methodist Church children’s choir where she was a member. Bonnie was a Brownie Troop Leader and also sold Avon for 23 years. Bonnie enjoyed the simple things in life, a walk in the fresh air, the changing colors of fall leaves and a beautiful sunset. She dreamed of retiring in Pagosa Springs where she vacationed every year. Bonnie enjoyed the holiday season with her favorite being Christmas. She began playing Christmas music in October and continued well after the Christmas season. She made the best homemade pumpkin pie and would sell them to her co-workers for $5.00 a pie. Bonnie thoroughly enjoyed cleaning. Nothing gave her more pleasure than seeing clean dishes, the beds made or freshly washed clothes on the clothesline. She was the caretaker of the family always caring for her parents, her children, and grandchildren. Even in the moderate stages of Alzheimers when she was in an assisted living home she would sweep the floors, clean off tables and care for the other residents. Bonnie is survived by her parents, Johnnie Sr. and Ella Martinez of Velarde; her true love and father of her children, Joseph Padilla of Santa Fe; her children, Lisa Vigil and husband Thomas and their children, Victoria, Vidal and Vicente of Santa Fe, Laura Boyle and husband Stacy and their children Michaela and Jason of Santa Fe, Joey Padilla and wife Hannah and their children Jacob and Amelia of Santa Fe; her brothers, Johnnie Jr. Martinez and wife Robin and daughter Melissa of Velarde, Larry Martinez and wife Peggy and their children Alexander and Rachel of Santa Fe. Memorial service will be held on Friday, February 13, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Valley View United Methodist Church in Española. In Lieu of flowers the family is requesting that a donation be made in Bonnie’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association. The family of Bonnie Kathleen Martinez- Griffith has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.

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