Glenda Martinez

Glenda Martinez, 81, went home to be with the Lord on February 2, 2017 in Lakewood, Colorado. She was a loving mother, grandmother and friend.

Glenda was born on June 7, 1935 to Carlos and Celestina Martinez in the small town of San Luis, Colorado. At 8 years old her family moved to Denver, Colorado. There her father became a butcher for Swift & Co. and her mother a chef at the elegant Albany and Brown Palace Hotels. Glenda graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1953 where she participated in the pep squad and sang in the chorale club. She was very popular and worked part-time as a soda jerk at the Myers Drug Store during her high years. She loved to dance and her favorite songs were "Tell Me Why" by the Four Aces, "Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley and "The Twist" by Chubby Checkers.

After dating for two years, she married Ernest Martinez in a grand wedding at Holy Ghost Church in Denver. Shortly thereafter, Ernest was drafted in the U.S. Army and they moved and Ft. Benning, Georgia. After he finished his service, they returned to Denver and had three children (Ron, Gina and Linda). Glenda kept busy raising her children, swimming, bowling and reading. She later went back to school and earned her Associates Degree from Barnes Business College. She returned to the workforce by advancing her career at the Lakewood Police Department and Metropolitan State College.

After her retirement in 2000, she focused her attention on her family. She loved cooking their favorite meals, going to movies and attending the theatre.

Glenda is survived by her daughters Gina and Linda (Richard) of Denver, Colorado; her son Ron (Lucy) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; her sister Marcella; and her grandchildren Allyson, Sara, Ben, Joshua and Jonathan.

Memorials and donations may be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org), the American Parkinson Disease Association (www.apdaparkinson.org) and St. Bernadette Catholic School (www.stbcs.net).

Vigil service will be 7:00pm on Sunday, February 12, 2017 at Newcomer Funeral Home in Lakewood, Colorado. Mass and reception will be held at St. Jude Catholic Church in Lakewood, Colorado on February 13, 2017 at 11:00 am. Private inurnment will take place at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.