Delphi Martinez

Delphi T. Martinez ("Uma"), resident of Aurora, CO, and originally from Espanola, NM, departed this world on May 1, 2022, surrounded by her daughter Marquette Martinez Payton, son-in-law Larry Payton, and grandchildren Dylan and Drake Payton.

She was born on April 24, 1949, to Aaron and Angelina Lopez and was the fifth of nine children. She always talked about her wonderful upbringing and how lucky she was to be part of a family filled with so much love.

After Delphi graduated from Espanola Valley High School in 1967, she moved to San Diego with her sister Helen Martinez and completed a nursing program at San Diego State University. Upon her return to Espanola, she worked as a nurse for 10 years. She then made a career switch and provided security protection for Los Alamos National Laboratory for 20.5 years and then retired.

Because she and her daughter Marquette were the best of friends, in 2004 she moved to Parker, CO, to be near her daughter. Subsequently, she moved to Lee's Summit, MO, with her daughter and son-in-law and worked at a local elementary school in their before- and after-school program because she loved children and they loved her. Once she joyfully welcomed her twin grandsons, Dylan and Drake, she helped raise them full-time when Marquette went back to work.

In 2011, Delphi moved back to Colorado with her daughter, son-in-law and grandsons, and Aurora was her last place of residence. She was very devoted to our Heavenly Father and enjoyed going to church at Our Lady of Loreto Church in Foxfield, CO, where she was a member of the Catholic Grandparents Association.

For those of you who knew Delphi, you know what a ray of sunshine she was. She had a smile that could light up a room, and she knew no strangers. When she went to the grocery store with her grandsons, they always asked her, “How do you know all of these people?” Those who worked with her say that she always made them laugh with her sense of humor. She was so generous and would go out of her way to make sure that others were taken care of and she would put their needs before her own. She also had a great love of sports. You can be sure that if it was football season, she was watching the Denver Broncos or Notre Dame Fighting Irish with her fingers crossed. If it was basketball season, she was cheering for the Denver Nuggets or the Duke Blue Devils. Her favorite role, however, was being the best “gramita” to her grandsons, whom she loved with all her heart and soul. She kissed their bruised knees, she baked cookies with them, she gave them baths when they were babies, she went on school field trips, and she was just always there to be their rock. She was there the day that they were born, and they were there the day we had to say goodbye. This world will never be the same without her, but her light will continue to shine in the hearts of the many people whose lives she touched.

Delphi is survived by her daughter Marquette Martinez Payton and her husband, Larry Payton; grandsons Dylan and Drake Payton; sister Helen Martinez and husband Louis; sister Wilma Royal; sister Ruby Padilla and husband Sam; sister Debbie Romero and husband Danny; brother Aaron Lopez Jr. and wife LeeAnn; and many other special family members and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Aaron and Angelina Lopez; brother Gilbert Lopez; sister Lilly Quintana; brother Ernie Lopez; and former spouse Marcus R. Martinez.

Serving as pallbearers will be Angelo Ortega, Joseph Padilla, Chris Roybal, Larry Payton, Drake Payton, Dylan Payton, Aaron Lopez, and Richie Martinez.

A Rosary will be recited on May 12, 2022 at 5:00 pm at the Holy Cross Catholic Church. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on May, 13, 2022 at the Holy Cross Catholic Church with burial to follow at the Rosario Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM. Following the services a comida will take place at the Beatrice Martinez Senior Center.

The family of Delphi 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