Helen Martinez

Helen A. Martinez was born in Las Vegas, NM on September 17, 1934, to Lorraine Sapp and Prudencio Martinez. She was raised with many cousins, nieces, and nephews that she considered sisters and brothers, by her paternal Aunt Mary Martinez whom she lovingly referred to as Nane. She attended school in West Las Vegas until her marriage, September 23, 1950, to her forever love, Bennie A. Martinez! They moved to Albuquerque, in February 1954. Helen was preceded in death by her beloved sons Michael Anthony and Donald Eugene, brothers Nick, Richard, Paul, Gene, Leo, Gilbert & Sonny Martinez and sisters, Jewell Upson, Rosie Gomez Salazar & Celsa Monje. She is survived by her husband of 70 years - Bennie; sisters JoAnn Manley, Guadalupe Donoho, Rita Maestas; as well as sons Robert, daughter-in-law Maureen, Ken (Vivian), David (Sheryl) and daughter Shirley; grandchildren Rob, Ben (Jessica), Chad, Matt (Melissa), Michael, Monica McNeil (Erin), Penelope Parham (Tim), Tim Roybal, Savannah King (Ryan), Gabriella, Janae McLane (Jamie), Davie, Brent and Thomas (Holly), Zachary & RJ (Erin) McNellis; 24 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Our Mama loved to cook for her large family including the annual Lenten meal and was the "bestest" taco maker in the world!!! Her greatest joys were spending time with her grandchildren and her's & Bennie's friends including Nep & Josie Sanchez. She could be found at the baseball and football fields cheering for her grandsons or hauling a carload of grandkids to Coronado Mall and handing out money, so they could purchase their favorite food and drink at the food court! Gramm's vocabulary did not contain the word "no" when asked if she could watch one or multiple grandchildren and often had a houseful, even overnight - just ask Bennie!

"The Mama" aka Gramms will forever be in our hearts as we smile, laugh and cry through the years.

A Celebration of Life for Helen will be held on Friday, June 4, 2021, at 2pm, at FRENCH-Wyoming, 7121 Wyoming NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109. The Service is available via webcam, and the link to the live-stream broadcast will be accessible by clicking here: Service

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations, in her honor, to Alzheimer's Association, New Mexico chapter https://act.alz.org/site/Donation or New Mexico Kidney Foundation, https://www.kidneyfund.org/take-the-pledge/, thank you!