Hermana Esperanza Martinez passed away peacefully at the Gilroy Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center on June 29, 2023, in Gilroy, CA at the age 81.

Esperanza Martinez was born in FRESNILLO, ZACATECAS, Mexico on August 3, 1941, to Pastor Jose Eliserio Martinez and Hermana Consuelo Rodriquez Martinez. She is preceded in death by her father Jose Martinez, mother Consuelo Martinez, and her siblings Raul Martinez, Tomas Martinez, Jesus Martinez, Egla Martinez and Elda Tapia. She is survived by her daughters Julie Brian, son-in-law Don Brian, granddaughter Zoe & fur-granddaughter Meg;  and Victoria Lealao, son-in-law Kupou Ualifi Lealao and fur granddaughters Chica, Bella and Suki; and by her siblings Efren & Lucy Martinez, Joel & Rose Martinez, Jose & Noemi Martinez, Samuel Martinez, Jaime Martinez, Sandra & Daniel Calderon, Ruben & Azucena Martinez, sister-in-law Maria Martinez and brother-in-law Cris Tapia as well as her many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Esperanza received her GED in San Jose, California.  She worked for a short time at the Gilroy Gentry Garlic Factory, and for 23 years, she worked as a Worker's Compensation Administrator in Campbell and San Jose, California.

She received her U.S. Citizenship on September 6, 2000 and was very proud of this accomplishment.  She made sure to reply to anyone, especially Doctors and Nurses, in English if they addressed her in Spanish.  The crowning moment was voting for the first time in the year 2000.

She helped care for her mother until her passing in April 2000.  In 2005, the apple of her eye arrived in this world with a bang, and she entered into the joyous world of Grandma-hood.  Zoe was her world and always in her heart and mind up until the final days of her life.

She was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. A faithful and active member of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ in Gilroy. She loved attending church services and to fellowship with her church brethren. She also enjoyed traveling to New Mexico, Texas and Juarez, Mexico to participate in the many Church activities and conventions.

Above all, one of the things she loved to do was to make a meal to share with all her siblings and their families. One of her final ideas was to make a meal in celebration of Zoe's high school graduation since she could not attend the ceremony.

She will be missed by so many.

https://www.gilroyflowershop.com/?y_source=1_MjA4OTMyNDMtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D