Leroy Modesto Martinez

Leroy Modesto Martinez, age 75, born in Denver, Colorado and a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away on February 12, 2024. Leroy is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Edna Martinez; children, Daniel V. Martinez and wife, Megan, David S. Martinez; grandchildren, Elaina Martinez, Vincent Martinez, Trinity Martinez, Talia Martinez; siblings, Katherine Kent and husband, David, , Elaine Crowe, Anthony Martinez and wife, Jane, Toby Martinez and wife, Sandra, Lisa Keenan and husband, Tim; several nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his sons, Martin Martinez, and Adam Martinez, and his parents, Modesto, and Elva Martinez. A Visitation for Mr. Martinez will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 9:45am with a Rosary to be recited at 10:15am with a Mass to follow at 11:00am all to be held at Our Lady of The Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church located at 5415 Fortuna Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87105. A Burial will take place at Mount Calvary Cemetery. 

There has never been or will ever be a man like Leroy Martinez. He was kind, giving, thoughtful, loyal, funny, hardworking, and full of faith in his Lord, Church, and family. He was the hardest working man in three counties. He hated being idle and was always busy with his hands. He helped anyone who asked him and was just one of those guys who would be the first to help someone when they needed it.

His Catholic faith was very important to him. He read his Daily Bread each morning, and a rosary was never far from his hands. You never had a conversation with him when he didn’t somehow bring Jesus into it. He was just like his mother in that way. LeRoy worked with the St. Vincent De Paul ministry at his church. He would visit many families who were so poor they couldn’t afford the needs for their families. The church would help these people with money for rent, a gas bill, or groceries. But when no money was left to help, LeRoy would give them money out of his own pocket. His heart was big, and he had a generous soul. His compassion for these families was endless.

When asked to say something about their brother, this is what his siblings said about him.

I remember my older brother LeRoy as a man of deep faith, selfless, a kindhearted soul, a master fixer upper, and someone that loved his family with all his heart.

LeRoy was devoted to God, his wife and family. A humble man with many talents and a good sense of humor.

Lolly, (as he was sometimes known), was a patient man. God was always first and foremost in his life. A master mechanic and loved to pour concrete. His sense of humor always made us chuckle and at times roll our eyes. A super brother to us all. He got his nickname “Lolly”, (as in lollygagger.) Someone who is always late, slow, to family functions, to appointments, to church. LeRoy was a lollygagger, and the family never let him forget it!

LeRoy weathered many challenges in his life without ever losing faith or failing to persevere. He would do anything for his family and even in his final days, offered to lend a helping hand.

LeRoy and Edna experienced an unimaginable tragedy when they lost two of their sons, Martin, and Adam. They were barely able to grieve over the

loss of Martin, then Adam was gone. They have both struggled through the grieving process. Every time that LeRoy talked about his loss, he would cry, his pain was so deep. He was going through the grieving process as his own health was declining. LeRoy was in and out of emergency rooms, hospital stays and rehabilitation facilities. He refused to be put into hospice because he felt he still had so much to do. We used to think he was in denial, but really, he just didn’t want to give up, he wasn’t finished yet. We learn from the Bible, that the sufferings of this life are not to be compared to the Glory that is to come. So, let’s take some comfort in this. Yes, of course we are terribly sad, heartbroken and we will miss him forever. When we don’t understand the plans that our Lord had for LeRoy, we must understand that although he will be missed in this life, there were so many people, family and friends who were waiting for him on the other side. There will be a piece missing from all of us for the rest of our lives. It’s the piece that LeRoy took with him when he left this world.