Nancy Martinez

Nancy Martinez, 73, Aurora, Colorado, died at home peacefully in her sleep on October 23, 2014. Nancy was born on February 10, 1941 in Pueblo, Colorado, to her parents Antonio Rivas and Rose (Gonzalez) Rivas. She is preceded in death by her mom, dad, and siblings: Anthony (Tony) Rivas, Rose Marie (‘Dimples') Arriaga, Dr. Richard Rivas, and Anthony (‘Soonie') Rivas. She is survived by her sisters Anita Lujan, and Rita Martinez, and by numerous cherished nieces and nephews.

She grew up in "Bessemer," on Pine Street, where as a child of age 11 in the 6th grade, she met the love of her life - Gerald (‘Jerry') Leroy Martinez. After eight years together, Gerald and Nancy married on June 11, 1960 among beloved friends and family. Nancy and Jerry have many friends old and new and hold them close to their hearts.

Nancy graduated from Pueblo Central High School, and completed two years of higher education at Pueblo Community College. Nancy worked as a medical stenographer at St. Mary Corwin Hospital from 1960 until 1990, when Gerald and Nancy moved to Aurora, Colorado, where she continued her work as medical stenographer at Integrated Health Management until 2013. She loved to work and loved her coworkers who became family.

In addition to her work and her role as loving wife, Nancy was a devoted mother grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was the matriarch to a large family, acting as a "tiger mother," fiercely advocating and devoting herself to her children, their success and their happiness. She embodied devotion to family, education, and doing the right thing. Her greatest hobby was to travel and watch her grandchildren's activities, always being their biggest supporter and cheering the loudest.

Nancy lived selflessly and passed down many life lessons with one primary message: FAMILY FIRST. Though she will be greatly missed, she leaves us without regrets and full of love. She is survived by and her legacy will live on through her husband of 54 years, Gerald Leroy Martinez, and the family they spent their life together building. Her children are Jacqueline Renee Taton (Bruce), Jodeen Jerri Carrillo, and Christopher Gerald Martinez (Katie). Her grandchildren are Christian Anthony Carrillo (Shelly), Jonathan Paul Carrillo, Gerald Gregory Carrillo, Bryan Michael Heckman, Catherine Elizabeth Heckman, Brianna Nicole Martinez, Christopher Gerald Martinez Jr., Madison Marie Martinez, Isabella Christine Martinez and her sole great granddaughter Alexa Jaye Carrillo.

We will celebrate her life in a mass at her beloved church - St. Francis Xavier Church 611 Logan Ave, Pueblo, CO 81004 on Thursday October 30th, 2014 at 10 a.m. followed by a reception at St. Francis Xavier Hall.