She was born Elisa Abigaíl Arellano in El Paso, Texas on October 18, 1937 to Abigail Quiñones Arellano (d.1978) and Miguel Arellano (d.1976). She graduated from Loretto Academy and shortly after married Roberto Martínez. Together, they raised their six children mostly in Sunset Heights. She kept a beautiful home where the aroma of something delicious often greeted people entering the house.
She found time to craft (filling the house with ceramics, rugs, macrame, and stained glass), garden, play piano and later belonged to the first Spanish-language theater group in El Paso called Teatro Los Pobres. She won awards for acting with Southwest Repertory Organization, had minor roles in Hollywood movies and she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
She was a community activist, was active in the Chicano movement and co-hosted Nuestra Hora on television in the 1970’s. She worked with MacMillan Publishers translating and narrating children’s stories in Spanish. This led her to Charlie Ericksen, founder of Hispanic Link, a Washington D.C. based bilingual news column. She translated for his paper and wrote many narratives about her Mexican culture and family traditions.
In the middle of all of this she found time to graduate from UTEP with a degree in Special Education and Speech Pathology. She worked for and retired from EPISD after many years.
She had a flair for life, was unapologetic, talented, contemporary yet traditional, complicated, entertaining, artistic, creative, and tenacious.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roberto, her parents, her son Roberto “Chacho” Martínez and her brother Eduardo Arellano.
Elisa is survived by her daughters Elisa Barton (James), Marta V. Martínez (Patrick Youngs), Mercedes Hernández (Luis d.2011), Mónica Aissa Martínez (Eduardo Durán), Analissa Martínez-Villavicencio (Rocco); Grandchildren Sofía Jácquez, Victor Jácquez, Alejandro Márquez, Sara Barton, José Youngs, Miguel Youngs, Pablo Youngs, Alfonso Hernández, Daniel Hernández, Carlos Hernández, Manuel Hernández, Roberto Villavicencio; her brother Héctor Arellano (Guadalupe); seven great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson and many beloved nieces and nephews.
She is gone from this world but will always be with us in our hearts and through her teachings.
Visitation for Elisa will be on Monday, April 8, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with a Rosary at 6:00 pm at Funeraria Del Angel Central, 3839 Montana Ave, El Paso, Texas 79903. Funeral mass will be on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Holy Family Church, 900 W. Missouri Ave., El Paso, Texas 79902, followed by a graveside at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Ave., El Paso, Texas 79906.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Monastery of Perpetual Adoration, 145 N. Cotton St, El Paso, TX 79901 (915) 533-5323
