Dora R. (Renteria) Martinez

Dora (Renteria) Martinez, age 78, passed away on March 25, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona, surrounded by the love of her family. Dora was born on May 7, 1947, in Lordsburg, New Mexico, the eldest of five children born to Manuel V. Renteria and Romelia (Martinez) Renteria. Dora was a lifelong resident of Lordsburg with the exception of two years spent attending business college in Tucson. 

Dora was educated in the Lordsburg schools and graduated from Lordsburg High School in 1966. Throughout her years in high school she excelled in her studies, was listed on the school's honor roll, and was active in school activities.  She was also a pupil of piano teacher Bethel Fuller for several years and always performed beautifully at piano recitals.

Dora was a reserved and mild mannered person, but would assert and defend herself when necessary.  One of her classmates at Central School would constantly bully her verbally and physically. One day, on her way home during the lunch hour, the bully started heckling Dora. She decided she had enough and defended herself by confronting the bully and knocking him to the ground. The bullying stopped.

After high school graduation Dora attended Tucson Business College earning an associate degree in secretarial science. She returned to Lordsburg and worked at the Income Support Division (ISD)  working with public assistance programs that provided nutrition, health coverage and financial support to individuals and families. After several years at ISD, she went to work at the New Mexico Health and Human Services Dept. where she worked 30 years before retiring.

Dora shared 50 years of marriage with her husband, Jesus "Chuchi" Martinez. They were married at St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Lordsburg. Dora and Chuchi had two daughters -- Erica and Julie. After her retirement from Health and Human Services, they enjoyed spending time in Tucson with their two grandchildren, Paul and Arianna Aquino watching them grow from babies to youngsters to teenagers. She cherished the time spent with them and found joy in nurturing and loving them. 

Dora also spent memorable and quality time caring for her parents in their advanced age by offering love and emotional connection through regular visits, phone calls, assisting with daily tasks, providing transportation, and arranging medical visits.

During her childhood years, Dora would enjoy visiting the home of her Aunt and Uncle Aurora and H.A. Saucedo in Lordsburg, who she referred to as her "Nina" and "Nino."  She and her cousin Edmund Saucedo would spend endless, carefree summer days having fun, getting into innocent mischief and enjoying the simple joys of youth. Dora and Edmund would play "swing ball" (tether ball) and Dora would always win. She was just too fast. After school they would walk from Central School to the Knights of Pythias building on Main Street, climb the front steps and slide down the bannisters. On Halloween night it was all fun and laughs going from house to house trick-or-treating.

Dora is survived by her husband, Jesus "Chuchi" Martinez; daughters Erica (Martinez) Aquino (Fernie) of Tucson; Julie Martinez of Rancho Cordova, California.; two grandchildren, Paul Aquino and Arianna Aquino, who lovingly referred to their grandmother as "Granny." Dora loved all family members but her grandchildren were the special love of her life. She is also survived by two sisters, Barbara (Renteria) Arredondo (Santiago) of Lordsburg and Esther Marie (Renteria) Orona of Chandler, Arizona; two brothers, Manuel "Manny" Renteria Jr. (Donna) of Las Cruces, New Mexico.; and Jimmy Renteria (Elizabeth) of Tucson; her Aunt Bessie Renteria of Lordsburg and her Uncle Ernesto Renteria of Phoenix; and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.    

She was preceded in death by her parents, Manuel and Romelia Renteria; her paternal grandparents Bernardo Renteria and Petra (Varela Verdugo) Renteria; her maternal grandparents Elfido Martinez and Julia Martinez; brother David who died at birth; and numerous uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.

Dora loved spending time with her husband, daughters and grandchildren. Dora was always very close to her sisters, Barbara and Esther. She loved her nieces and nephews and was kind and caring to everyone she met. She loved helping people. She will be greatly missed.       

Grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief, there was great love.

Funeral services are scheduled for April 9, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Parish. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 10:00 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00. Interment will take place at Shakespeare Cemetery.   

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dora R. (Renteria) Martinez, please visit our floral store.