Rose Martinez

Rose R. Martinez, Maria Estela Rosina Romero, was born on November 2nd, 1935 in Nambe, New Mexico. She was raised to be a strong woman, with a good work ethic. While working at Dorothy’s Café in Pojoaque she met the man who would become her husband, Vicente Martinez Jr., and they raised a family together in Chimayo. Over the years she made many friends, taking some in as her own, as she became Mama Rose to many, and later Grandma Rose.  She had Catholic values with a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother and raised her family in a Godly way. Rose was a stay-at-home mom who raised her children until her youngest was six years old, when she started her career as a teacher’s aide working with disabled children.

Mama Rose had a deep love for those less fortunate and would give of herself in many ways. Early in her career she would provide respite care for parents with disabled children and would often bring the children to her home and take care of them with the love and tenderness she had in her heart. Rose taught her own children to love everyone equally and treat all with the respect they deserved. After her career with the schools she retired and then became a Foster Grandma for the schools, working with the little ones in kindergarten. During this time she came to love numerous children who, even as they grew up, continued to affectionately call her “Grandma Rose”.

The years of her life after the loss of her beloved daughter Benita were challenging for her, emotionally and health wise. Many people cared for her during those years, with her daughters taking turns providing around-the-clock care and love at the end. God took her on His terms, beginning her transition at 11:11 AM, then miraculously bringing her back to life with the help of the incredible staff at Christus St. Vincent, when she was able to speak to her “girls” one last time and made her final transition at 1:11 on 11/11/2020.

Rose Martinez was preceded in death by her husband Vicente Martinez, Jr., her daughter Benita Marquez, two infant children Carmella Millicent and Vicente III; by her parents Canuto and Marcelina Romero, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Vicente Sr. and Beatriz Martinez, her son-in-law, Jesus Rangél, and great-grandbaby Denise Archuleta. She was also preceded in death by her brothers Frank, Otoniel, and Juan Romero and sisters Felipa Valdez and Mary Sanders Corral, and brothers-in-law Lewis Sanders, Catalino Jimenez, Valentín Valdez, Henry Martinez, Sam Garduño, and Toby Vigil.

Rose is survived by her children, Peter Martinez (Natalie), Adrian Martinez (Cheryl), Letitia Martinez, Felix Martinez (Marie), Marcelina Martinez Romero (Gilbert), and son-in-law Edward Marquez. She is also survived by her sister Donna Jimenez and her brother Reuben Romero (Kathy), loving sisters-in-law, Angelica Medina (Johnny), Cecilia Casias (Edward), Loretta Martinez, Consuelo Vigil, and Marcella Garduño and Josie Romero, brother-in-law, Ranulfo Corral. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, several godchildren, and many other loving friends and relatives. A rosary will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Holy Family Catholic Church in Chimayo, with a mass to follow at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be held at the Nuestra Senora de Dolores Cemetery. The family of Maria Estela Rosina Romero, “Rose” has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley. 505-747-7477-www.devargasfuneral.com