Maria Fresquez Martinez

MARIA JOSEFA FRESQUEZ MARTINEZ, 94, a lifetime resident of San Pedro, was called to be with our Lord on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 surrounded by family, following a long battle with dementia. Maria was an active member of our community. Mrs. Martinez served as head cook at the Española Public Schools for 27 years, prior to her retirement. She worked for the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the early 1940’s. She was also a member of the Santa Cruz de la Cañada Church community throughout her life. Maria was active in the Carmelitas and helped with serving meals for the poor. She was part of the 8:30 a.m. church choir. Maria enjoyed people and loved her family and friends. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. She had a smile for everyone and some would call her “smiley”. Mrs. Martinez was preceded in death by her husband, Onecimo G. Martinez; parents, Santiago and Antonia Salazar Fresquez; brothers, Ramon and Samuel Fresquez; sisters-in-law, Clorinda and Aurelia Fresquez and Rosanita Cordova; brothers-in-law, Ramon Moya, Porfirio Cordova. Mrs. Martinez is survived by her daughters, Dolores Martinez Salazar of Albuquerque and Ida Salazar and husband Ted of Middle San Pedro; four special grandchildren, Pamela Salazar Lentini and husband Dan, Valerie Salazar of Albuquerque, Debbie Salazar of Middle San Pedro and Ted Salazar, Jr. of Albuquerque; her only great-grandchild, Lauren Lentini of Albuquerque and Phoenix; brothers, Joe Fresquez and special sister-in-law, Helen, Pete Fresquez and wife Lydia all of San Pedro; sisters, Theresa Moya of Santa Fe, Frances Valerio and husband Pat of El Duende, Lourdes Chavez and husband Anthony of Albuquerque and many nieces, and nephews, including the special nieces and nephews who always came to visit her, Theresa and Reuben Martinez and Dave and Lisa Cordova all of Taos. Public visitation will begin on Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory, with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 21, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at La Iglesia de Santa Cruz de la Canada, with a burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Serving the family as pallbearers Paul Fresquez, Annette Atencio, Teresa Martinez, Dave Cordova, Bobby Salazar, and Adriana Muñoz, honorary pallbearers Pete Fresquez, Pat Valerio, Anthony Chavez, Barbara Fresquez, Lisa Cordova, Theresa Valdez, Yvonne Martinez, and Reuben Martinez. The family of Maria Josefa Fresquez Martinez has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.

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