Eralia "Lila" Martinez

Eralia Martinez, known to her friends and family as Lila, age 91, a longtime resident of Colorado Springs, passed away on Friday, July 11, 2014 at Emeritus Memory Care Center.

Eralia Isabel Garcia was born on August 24, 1922 in Segundo, Colorado to the late Joseph and Antonia (Gonzalez) Garcia. She married Thomas H. Martinez on January 6, 1945 at Holy Trinity Church in Trinidad, Colorado. She was a loving mother of six children, who was a strong foundation for their military family during numerous relocations, including Austria, Wyoming, New York, Washington, Louisiana, Texas, and Colorado. The family settled in Colorado Springs after Thomas’s retirement in 1963.

She is survived by her children: Thomas H. Martinez, Jr.; William G. (Carolina) Martinez; Linda M. Martinez; Mary B. (John) Guzman; and John Francis Martinez; her grandchildren: Thomas H. (Stephanie) Martinez, III; Deanna Martinez; Jose Martinez; Luz (Tyler) Slauter; Juan (Chenelle) Cuellar; Jamie Lynn (Wes) Cuellar; and Alexander E. (Casey) Cuellar. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, LTC Thomas H. Martinez, Sr. in 1985; her son, James J. “Chico” Martinez in 2005; and her daughter-in-law, Maria Elena Martinez.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. A Rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday at Divine Redeemer Catholic Church, 927 North Logan Avenue. A reception will follow at the church. Private entombment will be at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Lila’s name may be made to Silver Key Senior Services, 2250 Bott Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904; or to the Memory Care Center at Emeritus at Bear Creek, 1685 South 21st Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904.

Lila’s family would like to thank the Emeritus Memory Care Center and Optum Hospice for their compassionate care and support.