Cecilia Ortega Martinez

Cecilia Ortega Martinez, 92, of Amarillo, Texas died Sunday October 24, 2021.

Services are 12pm Friday, October 29, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. A rosary and visitation is scheduled at 6pm on Thursday, October 28, at LaGrone-Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, 8310 S Coulter.

Cecilia was born May 16, 1929 in Channing, Texas to Fidel and Monica Ortega. Cecilia moved to Amarillo, Texas and attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School. She attended Amarillo College and earned certification as an EKG Technician. She married Bennie Martinez in 1946. They had a son, Vincent Martinez, in 1948. Cecilia was an active member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and School. She was a member of the Guadalupanas Organization. She served as an avid volunteer at Our Lady of Guadalupe church for many years and through several clergical transitions. She filled any role that she was asked to fill from cleaning and maintaining the church and rectory to serving and teaching. She cared for Sister Maria Luz when she became ill. She worked as a teacher’s assistant and served in the cafeteria at Our Lady of Guadalupe School. She taught ESL classes to adults. She served as a Eucharistic Minister and taught catechism classes. She received special recognition for extraordinary service to the church and Catholic Diocese of Amarillo, by Bishop Leroy Matthiesen, in 1989. She was chosen as the Grand Marshall for Las Fiestas de Amarillo in 2004. Cecilia was also a member of the America GI Forum and served as Ladies Auxiliary Chairman in 1960.Cecilia’s most important and valued service has been as a wife, mother, and grandmother. Cecilia was preceded in death by her husband, Bennie Martinez, in 1982. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Minnie Berry of Manitou Springs, Colorado, and brother, Julian Ortega of Amarillo. She is survived by her sister, Rosa Estrada, of Amarillo. Cecilia’s family includes her son, Vincent Martinez and daughter-in-law Ana Martinez. Her grandchildren include Gerald Martinez and wife Adrienne of Keller, Texas and Monica Bellar and husband James of Amarillo. Cecilia’s biggest joy remained being a great grandmother to 7 great grandchildren including Matthew and wife Rebekah, Tatom and Chris, Ayden, Aaron, and Jude. Cecilia was also a great- great-grandmother to Payton Roberson and was expecting her first great-great-grandson in March 2022.