The fourth child and second daughter to Agapita Hurtado de Castro and Antonio Hurtado. She grew with the words of Lord by her ear and in her heart, attending Templo Getsemaní on Alameda Ave. Growing up, she helped attend to her younger sisters and enjoyed playing on stilts and climbing trees with her sister, Marta. Her walk with the Lord crossed her path with a young man, “muy preguntón”, she would call him, a young Elias Martinez. Graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1965, Maria would later attend Allan Hancock College, earning her Associates Degree in Medical Assisting.
In 1973, she would marry that young suitor who had originally annoyed the Sunday school classes with all of his questions, becoming Mrs. Maria H. Martinez, and relocating with him to Central California via the U.S. Air Force.
In 1978, she would give birth to her first child, a son while living in Santa Maria. After her husband discharge from the armed services and his graduation from college, the couple with their newborn son, would relocate to Southern California to begin a new chapter. Working through various rules in the medical field, Maria was the epitome of motherhood: strength, kindness, doring on her husband and son. In 1983, she was blessed with her second child, another son, whom she loved greatly. She filled her days with her loving family with weekend barbecues and little league baseball games. Handmade costumes for school events and teaching her youngest to pay tennis were highlights that brought her joy.
Returning home to El Paso in 1993, she continued in her walk with the Lord, facing each challenge and obstacle as a potential for ‘new beginnings’, optimistic in the hope that the Lord gives. Standing ever vigilant and firm, but kind-hearted and warm, she guided her sons in the ways of the Lord, both through instruction but also by example. As families grew and changed, she saw her sons off to explore their own world and she resigned to the twilight of life with her husband, walking in faith by the grace of her Lord. Grandchildren soon appeared and she was ever ready and present to nurture and spoil them, as is necessary for any grandmother to do. Grandma was a mantle she wore with as much pride as Sister, Mother, and Sister in the Lord.
As the Lord saw that she completed His Good Work here, He declared her mission accomplished and called her home. It is with great pride, and bittersweet joy that we celebrate her return to her heavenly home understanding that we have hope in the Resurrection and the knowledge that we will see each other again.
A visitation for Maria will be held Monday, April 22, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Funeraria Del Angel Central, 3839 Montana Ave, El Paso, Texas 79903. A prayer service will occur Monday, April 22, 2024 at 7:00 PM, 3839 Montana Ave, El Paso, Texas 79903. A graveside will occur Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Ave., El Paso, Texas 79906.
