Irene Conferina Martinez

On September 10, 2026, at the age of 91, my beautiful mother passed away, leaving behind a lifetime of love, family, memories, and a legacy that will live on in all of us who were blessed to know and love her.

My mother was born in 1934 in Brighton, Colorado, to Jerry and Corina Sisneros. She was one of seven children, growing up alongside her brothers and sisters, Gene, Beverly, Bob, Carol, Jerry, and Fannie. From the very beginning, family was an important part of her life, and that love of family remained at the center of everything she did.

She was an incredible woman, an incredible wife, and an incredible mother.

On May 12, 1956, she married my father, Leonard S. Martinez, at St. Augustine's Catholic Church in Brighton. Together, Mom and Dad began a journey that would last an extraordinary 70 years.

This past May, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary — seven decades of love, commitment, memories, struggles, laughter, and standing by each other's side through every season of life.

That kind of love is rare, and it was a beautiful testament to the life they built together.

But to me, Mom was more than just an incredible wife and mother.

She was the first love of my life.

She was the first person who loved me, the first person who held me, the first person who made me feel safe, and the first person who taught me what unconditional love really meant.

No matter how old we become, there is something about losing your mother that reaches a place deep inside your heart. There is always a part of us that wants just one more conversation, one more hug, one more chance to hear her voice say our name.

I would give anything for one more moment with her.

Mom was also blessed to see her love continue through another generation. She was a proud grandmother to Nicole, Kyle, Eric, Tyler, Coby, and Casey, and a great-grandmother to Asher Isiah & Marigold.

I know each of them will carry their own special memories of her, just as I will. Her love will continue through them, through our family, and through the stories we tell about her for years to come.

Mom, thank you.

Thank you for giving me life.

Thank you for every sacrifice you made, every lesson you taught me, every hug, every prayer, every smile, and every moment you gave to our family.

Thank you for loving Dad for 70 years and for showing us what devotion and commitment look like.

Thank you for being a grandmother and great-grandmother and for giving your love to Nicole, Kyle, Eric, Tyler, Coby, Casey, and Asher Isiah.

And most of all, thank you for being my mother.

I know there will be days when the sadness feels overwhelming.

There will be moments when I reach for the phone, or hear a song, or see something that reminds me of you, and my heart will ache because I can't call you or hear your voice.

But I will hold on to the memories.

I will hold on to your love.

I will hold on to everything you taught me.

And I will carry you with me for the rest of my life.

Your 91 years were a gift to our family. Your love was a gift. Your life was a gift.

And although my heart is broken that you are no longer here, I am grateful beyond words that I was blessed to call you Mom.

So today, I won't say goodbye forever.

I'll say:

Goodbye for now, Mom.

Rest peacefully. Your work here is done.

Know that you were loved more than words can ever express, and that you will never, ever be forgotten.

Until we meet again, I'll carry you in my heart.

I love you, Mom.

You were the first love of my life, and you always will be.

Goodbye for now.