Rafaila Martinez

She was born in Loraine on October 24, 1944 to Bacillio and Antonia Arellano Arenas.

Rafaila was a devout Catholic, a wonderful wife, great mother, and even better grandmother. She worked for a few years in Sweetwater for the Walls Factory until she started working for her favorite job working as a lunch lady for the school in Loraine. Aside from being in the cafeteria Rafaila would occasionally help out cleaning class rooms, filling in and helping wherever she could. In the mornings she would wake up brew a cup of coffee and listen to her favorite radio station KVMC. In her spare time she enjoyed helping out with the church festival, even when she was wheelchair bound. She also enjoyed crocheting, doing puzzles, watching westerns, making banana bread and watching her humming birds. She was a huge football fan, would watch any game whether it was professional or college and probably knew more about the teams then most fans. Rafaila was a very faithful member of Saint Joseph’s Church in Loraine, attended as much as she could and was a member of the Guadalupana’s and the church choir when they had it. As she got older she enjoyed scratching her lotto tickets and playing loteria. She will be truly missed by those that loved her.

Rafalia is survived by her son Efran Martinez of Sweetwater, daughters Micki Jo Hernandez and husband Raul of Loraine and Kathrine Ann Martinez of Loraine, and grandchildren Alicia A. Hernandez, Abram Hernandez, Adrian M. Hernandez, Kristina M. Martinez, and Arianni C. Martinez. She is also survived by her brothers Emilio Arenas of Amarillo and Antonio Arenas. of Escondido California, by sisters Janie Luera and husband Pete of Colorado City and Maria Regino of Sweetwater, as well as by several nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Catarino Martinez Jr., by a daughter Stephanie Ann Martinez, and by a brother Cruz Arenas.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Rafaila will be held on Friday, May 19th at 10 am in Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Loraine with Father Michael Udegbunam officiating, the burial to follow in the Loraine Cemetery.

The family will be present for a visitation on Thursday, May 18th from 5-7pm with a rosary to be held at 7pm in the Kiker Seale Funeral Home Chapel.

Those wishing may share a memory by visiting www.kikerseale.com

In lieu of flowers please consider memorial contributions in her memory to the Guadalupana’s of Saint Joseph’s Church in Loraine.