Longtime Monte Vista resident Mary A. Martinez, 100, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Mary was born in Antonito, Colo., on Oct. 24, 1923, to Gregorita (DeHerrera) Lobato and Martin Lobato.  She married the love of her life Ben R. Martinez on Aug. 7, 1946, in Monte Vista at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, they were married 63 beautiful years until his passing in 2010.

Mary loved to pray the Rosary 2 or 3 times daily.  She enjoyed baking, doing crossword puzzles and word searches.  She liked to watch wrestling, she was an avid Broncos and Colorado Rockies fan. Mary collected ceramic sheep, her special collections of ceramic farm animals and sheep are a prized collection, that anyone who knew her enjoyed contributing to. Mary absolutely loved visiting with her many friends, whom she loved dearly. She retired from the Colorado State Veterans Center food service department after 26 years of dedicated service.

Mary is survived by her only child Antonio “Tony” Martin Martinez, he was her pride and joy. Her love for him was her safety and security. He was her happiness! Her daughter-in-law Virginia Z. Martinez was her calmness, her guide, her safety and security. Mary enjoyed sitting with Virginia and talking and praying, laughing and reminiscing, and looking at pictures (when she could still see well). Her granddaughters; Melissa R. (Juan) Martinez Palomarez, they were her tenderness, her love, her joy, her friends, and her protectors. Angelica K. (Eli) Heredia, they were her sweetness, her dancing partner, her joy, her protectors. Mary’s great-grandchildren; Eliana H. Heredia who was her one and only great-granddaughter.  She was her beautiful and loving pride and joy. Antonio C. Martinez, was her grandson who shared the same name with her Antonio. He was her handsome and tall great-grandson and loving pride and joy. Eryc Heredia, was her youngest great-grandson and her soft-spoken grandson that was so handsome and her loving pride and joy. Mary’s pride in life was living long enough to be blessed with her 5^th generation, great-great-grandson Aiden Heredia-Montoya. She loved him so much. She loved attending all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s activities and sports. She was their biggest fan! She always said her biggest accomplishments in life was living long enough and with good health to enjoy many happy moments and create many happy memories with her family. To have good energy to enjoy being included in everything. Mary is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews whom she was a mother figure for and they all loved her dearly.

Mary was preceded in death by both her parents, her husband, her brothers; Eluterio Lobato, Manuel Lobato, and Joe Alfonso Lobato; her sisters in law; Jane Lobato and Adelina Lobato.

A visitation will be held Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, from 1-4 p.m. at Rogers Family Mortuary at 404 Morris St. in Monte Vista. A vigil and recitation of the Rosary will be Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, at 7 p.m. at the St Joseph Catholic Church in Monte Vista. A Funeral Mass will be Saturday, the 18^th of November at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Monte Vista at 10 a.m.

Rogers Family Mortuary is in care of the arrangements. To leave online condolences, tributes, and words of support and comfort for Mary’s family, please visit www.RogersFunerals.com.