Dolores “Dee” Martinez was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Our mother, Dolores passed away peacefully at the age of 97, on March 25, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dolores was born on May 10, 1926 and raised on her family ranch in Saint John’s, Arizona. The family later moved to Winslow, Arizona where she met the love of her life, Tony Martinez. Upon Tony’s return from the Pacific Theater where he served in the Army during World War II, the couple were married in a double wedding, alongside Dolores’ cousin, in 1947 at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Winslow, Arizona.
Dolores and Tony relocated to Phoenix in 1964, where they raised their five children. She loved cooking and baking for her family and friends, and only knew how to make enough “to feed an army”. Dolores was a devout Catholic and dedicated to our Blessed Mother. She will always be remembered for keeping you in her prayers. Her devotion to her faith kept her active at her parish church, St. Agnes, she took pride in cleaning the altar and washing and ironing the linens for mass. During her tenure for DES for the State of Arizona she took care of infants and children whom she treated like her own, many considered Dolores as a second mother, and her home as a second home. Dolores loved caring for children of friends, acquaintances, and family even after her work with DES ended, her loving care was contagious!
Dolores is preceded in death by her husband, Tony, her mother Brigida Chavez, her father James Chavez and her siblings Raul Chavez, James Chavez, Albino Chavez, Sophie Danko and Annabell Kottmer.
Dolores is survived by her five children, Tony (Barbara), Bernadette (Bill), Anna Marie (Frank -deceased), Gerard, Bridget (Adrian). Her eight grandchildren, Noelle (Mike), Carmen (Charles), Bridgette (Joe), Brenna, John (Morgan), Matthew (Joan), Luke and Mark, will forever be in her heart as well as her 9 great-grandchildren and sibling, Angelo Chavez.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 14, 2024 from 2:00 – 5:00 P.M. with a Rosary at 4:00 P.M. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85018.
Funeral Mass will take place on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 2312 E. Campbell Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85016.
Burial to follow at 1:00 P.M. at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85024, where she will be laid to rest next to Tony.