Dorene Cecelia Martin (Martinez)

Dorene Cecelia Martin

February 22, 1948 – September 1, 2021

Dorene left us to be with our Lord Jesus from her home in Olathe, Colorado on September 1, 2021 after a long battle with lung disease.

Dorene was born to Manuel and Flora Martinez in Denver, CO. She had a son Robert in July of 1966 and daughter Denise in July 1968. Dorene was the youngest of twelve children.

She was very outgoing in her early years and had many occupations. She did everything from office work to construction, and then worked for RTD in Denver. After retiring from RTD, she went to school to be a certified casino dealer in Central City, CO.

Dorene then had her first grandchild in 1992 and granddaughter in 1995 in Olathe, CO. She would drive frequently from Denver through all types of weather, it didn’t matter if there was snow or ice she would be there. In 1995 she couldn’t stand being away from her daughter, son in law, and grandchildren, so she decided to move to Olathe to be with them, where she resided until her death.

Dorene was loved very much by her children and grandchildren who she was always there for. She will always be known as “Gramma Dorene,” not only to Andrew and Andrea, but their friends growing up and all her other grandchildren she helped raised and take care of throughout her early years here in Olathe.

She enjoyed watching all of her grandchildren’s baseball, football, softball, basketball, volleyball games and was their biggest fan at the games. Dorene loved to watch her broncos and she especially enjoyed watching Serena Williams play tennis. She enjoyed family gatherings in which she loved to cook for, she was an excellent cook. She will always be remembered for her amazing tamales, enchiladas, potato salad, and red chili by those that knew her. She made sure her family knew her recipes that she had learned from her mother to pass along, and was very proud of that.

Dorene is survived by one living sister, Louise “Chat” Abeyta of Denver; son Robert Martinez of Denver; daughter Denise Rivera (Larry Crosby) of Olathe;  grandchildren, Andrew Rivera           ( Tessa) of Corpus Christi, and Andrea Rivera of Denver. She had two great grandchildren, Alija Ray and Blair Rose Rivera, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her family always brought her a smile to her face and she was very proud of them. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all. Until we meet again in glory.

Love.

“Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you!  If you cannot remember me with smiles and laughter, then don’t remember me at All.”                            Dorene

A celebration of Dorene’s life will be held at Calvary Chapel Montrose on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 10:00 am, located at 2201 S Townsend Ave, Unit D in Montrose, CO 8140.

Reception to follow services for friends and family to share memories of Dorene will be held at her daughter’s home at 5850 5825 Rd. Olathe, CO 81425.