Debra Martinez Obituary

"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord," 2 Corinthians 5:8 Because we believe this to be true, we know that Debra A. Martinez was standing with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday morning July 20, 2025. Though it took her 74 and a half years to make her move to heaven, she left an amazing legacy behind of love, loyalty and laughs. Debra or "Debbie" was born to Elvira and Nago Alaniz in Alice, Texas on December 29, 1950. She lived in San Diego, Texas up until her graduation from San Diego High School, Class of 1968. (Go Vaqueros!) She attended the University of Texas at Austin where she graduated with her degree in Education in 1973. We would be remised to leave out big things that happened while she was in college. She married Luis Noe Martinez, the love of her life and had her first daughter Denicka all while she was getting her education. Her time in Austin instilled a fierce love for the Texas Longhorns. Her loyalty to "The Horns" is rarely questioned and as most of her pictures can attest, she is proudly displaying her Hook 'Em Horns! After graduation she and Louie picked El Paso, Texas to start their new lives and test out their college degrees. Debbie was immediately employed with the El Paso Independent School District. She taught elementary school as well as special education for many years. There she bloomed not only professionally but with a wealth of friends that unknown to her at the time, would become family. She and Louie also grew the family tree by two when they welcomed two more daughters, Diella and Deandra. It was in these years that she pursued her master's degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in Educational Leadership. This afforded her the opportunity to expand her net even larger with the influence she had as a principal. But all her professional accolades pale in comparison to the influence she had as a wife, mother and friend. If you can measure a person's life by the size of the void they leave behind once they are gone, then Debra was a giant in terms of the love, loyalty and laughter she left us. She never met a stranger; they were just friends she hadn't met yet. Her heart had room for everyone- human or furry, all were family to her. The number of dogs that owned Debbie's heart are many, but her true love "Junior" was the one that we believe she loved the most, or maybe because he was the one she had last. There weren't many places that Debbie went where Junior couldn't be found close by or in her tote. And wherever those two could be found, there were laughs to be had. Debbie's friends were an integral part of her life's purpose. She had an extraordinary ability to empathize with others, taking on their dilemmas, health challenges, and personal tragedies as if they were her own. Fearless in her devotion, she never hesitated to be present during difficult times, whether at hospitals, funerals, or moments of need. Her loyalty was unwavering, and friends knew that if they were ever in a jam, she was the one to call. For this reason, and so many more, we will all miss her deeply. Debbie had a unique gift for knowing just the right words to say or the perfect solution to suggest. No matter how heavy the situation was, she had a way of bringing laughter even through the tears. Love, loyalty, and laughter were her life's mantra, and her spirit will continue to inspire all of us who were fortunate enough to know her. Her biggest joy was her family, particularly her grandkids. Deandra and Rob (Lopez) brought her 3 grandsons Austin, Owen and Evan and an angel granddaughter Emma Grace that we are certain she met and got to hold for the first time on Sunday morning. Diella and Brian (Sowada) brought her Olivia, Daniel and Brian. She told people all the time that if she knew having grandchildren was going to be this fun, she would have had them first! She loved being a grandmother and we know they all have her love, loyalty and laughter to take with them for the rest of their lives. Debbie is proceeded in death by her parents, Nago and Elvira Alaniz, her sister JoAnn Alaniz and her granddaughter Emma Grace Lopez. She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Louie, her daughters Denicka (Arthur Abiera) Diella (Brian Sowada) Deandra (Rob Lopez) grandkids Austin, Owen, Evan, Olivia, Daniel and Brian, sister Betty Alaniz and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and Godchildren. Debbie was a fierce fighter who faced this brutal illness with dignity and grace, but the lack of effective treatment options-many of which have remained unchanged for the past two decades-left her with few choices. Funding for research can offer hope and additional treatments for future patients. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025 at Garza Funeral Home in San Diego, Texas with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. that evening. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at St. Francis De Paula Catholic Church in San Diego, Texas. Interment will follow at Family Cemetery in Santo Nino, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family humbly requests that donations be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at http://support.PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).org/goto/ForDebbie Anyone wishing to leave condolences for the family may do so at www.garzafuneralhome.com. Arrangements entrusted to Garza Funeral Home.