Marina Artalejo

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are grey

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

-Gene Autry

The world lost a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and caregiver. Marina Madrid Artalejo passed away peacefully at home May 23, 2022 in El Paso, Texas.

Born April 9, 1928, she was the daughter of Herminagildo Dario Madrid and Louisa Duran Manno, and siblings to Joseph Madrid, Robert Madrid, Joe Manno, and Bertha Holguin.

Marina was married 72 years to her life-long love, Benjamin Artalejo. Together they raised three daughters, Marina Rush (husband, Ron Rush), Virginia Diaz (Robert Diaz), and Christine Samaniego (David Samaniego). She leaves behind six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

Marina was a graduate of Ysleta High School. She worked at Mountain Bell Telephone Company, and as a bookkeeper for Food Mart and accounting supervisor for Safeway grocery stores. She also led a very active and social lifestyle. Marina was involved in several social clubs: Bobby Sox Club, Tumbling Club, Sewing Club, and the Merry Mates Club with her husband Ben. During her retirement, she was also a volunteer at Providence Memorial Hospital.

Marina logged thousands of miles traveling the country (and the world) with her husband Ben – often bringing her children and grandchildren on those adventures. To say Marina had a lust for life would be an understatement. Anyone who met her, would quickly refer to her as “Grandma”. If you were hungry she fed you (lots). If you were tired, she offered you rest. She was a great listener and would offer advice based on her life-long experience. She was the matriarch of the family and the glue that kept it all together. Marina loved to dance and taught her favorite songs to her kids and grandchildren. All of her children and grandchildren were rocked to sleep while she sang “You Are My Sunshine”. She was also a favorite of all of the family dogs, who followed her around and spent hours in her company.

Marina lived a good, 94-year adventure-filled life. She will be dearly missed, but welcomed into heaven by those who have passed before her. Her eternal dance, with her husband Ben will continue, and her spirit, wisdom, and strength remain with those who were blessed to have known her. The family would like to thank her nurse Sonia, her two caregivers Maria and Lupita whose care was invaluable to Marina and the family.

Visitation for Marina will be held from 4:00pm to 8:00pm with Vigil at 6:00pm Thursday, July 7, at Crestview Funeral Home, 1462 N. Zaragoza Rd., El Paso, Texas 79936. Funeral Mass will be 10:00am Friday, July 8, at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 2301 Zanzibar Rd., El Paso, Texas. Committal service will follow at 11:30am at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

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Marina Madrid Artalejo

(April 9, 1928 – May 23, 2022)

You Are My Sunshine

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are grey

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

-Gene Autry

The world lost a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and caregiver. Marina Madrid Artalejo passed away peacefully at home May 23, 2022 in El Paso, Texas.

Born April 9, 1928, she was the daughter of Herminagildo Dario Madrid and Louisa Duran Manno, and siblings to Joseph Madrid, Robert Madrid, Joe Manno, and Bertha Holguin.

Marina was married 72 years to her life-long love, Benjamin Artalejo. Together they raised three daughters, Marina Rush (husband, Ron Rush), Virginia Diaz (Robert Diaz), and Christine Samaniego (David Samaniego). She leaves behind six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

Marina was a graduate of Ysleta High School. She worked at Mountain Bell Telephone Company, and as a bookkeeper for Food Mart and accounting supervisor for Safeway grocery stores. She also led a very active and social lifestyle. Marina was involved in several social clubs: Bobby Sox Club, Tumbling Club, Sewing Club, and the Merry Mates Club with her husband Ben. During her retirement, she was also a volunteer at Providence Memorial Hospital.

Marina logged thousands of miles traveling the country (and the world) with her husband Ben – often bringing her children and grandchildren on those adventures. To say Marina had a lust for life would be an understatement. Anyone who met her, would quickly refer to her as “Grandma”. If you were hungry she fed you (lots). If you were tired, she offered you rest. She was a great listener and would offer advice based on her life-long experience. She was the matriarch of the family and the glue that kept it all together. Marina loved to dance and taught her favorite songs to her kids and grandchildren. All of her children and grandchildren were rocked to sleep while she sang “You Are My Sunshine”. She was also a favorite of all of the family dogs, who followed her around and spent hours in her company.

Marina lived a good, 94-year adventure-filled life. She will be dearly missed, but welcomed into heaven by those who have passed before her. Her eternal dance, with her husband Ben will continue, and her spirit, wisdom, and strength remain with those who were blessed to have known her. The family would like to thank her nurse Sonia, her two caregivers Maria and Lupita whose care was invaluable to Marina and the family.

Visitation for Marina will be held from 4:00pm to 8:00pm with Vigil at 6:00pm Thursday, July 7, at Crestview Funeral Home, 1462 N. Zaragoza Rd., El Paso, Texas 79936. Funeral Mass will be 10:00am Friday, July 8, at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 2301 Zanzibar Rd., El Paso, Texas. Committal service will follow at 11:30am at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.