It is with a heavy heart that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved sister, Maria Del Carmen Martinez (Carmela). She passed away on September 11, 2026, at Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs, California.

Maria was preceded in death by her daughter, Denise Nala Martinez; her sister, Maria Martinez; her father, Adolfo Martinez; her grandparents, Jose and Maria; her Tias Sara and Ofelia; and her Tíos, Pedro, Luis, and Jose Martinez.

Maria was born on March 14, 1992 to Adolfo and Carmen Martinez at Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, California. Maria or “Carmela,” as some of us knew her graduated from Palo Verde High School with the Class of 2011, she was just shy of her 15-year class reunion. She also went on to attend Palo Verde College and will forever be a Ruth Brown Bear.

She was what locals would call a “River Rat.” Maria loved Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, and true to form, she had a huge great white shark floatie that she took out on the water every chance she had and we have the pictures to prove it. In 2017, one of her greatest dreams came true when she welcomed her “lovebug,” Dominic Martinez, into this world.

Dominic will always be reminded of the grace, kindness, and love she showed the world. He will always know how humble, patience, and soft-spoken Maria was unless she was mad, and then the “Martinez” came out. According to a sister in the family, Maria was the “nicest” one; that sister chose to remain anonymous.

At the time of her passing, Maria had been employed for the last four years at the California Department of Food and Agriculture station in Blythe as an Agricultural Technician III. From the food and Starbucks runs to the cold winters and hot summers, Maria loved her work family dearly. Everyone especially appreciated the pots of coffee she made which were frequently requested and we hope someone there keeps that tradition going in honor of her.

Maria is survived by her only son, Dominic; her mother, Carmen; and her siblings: Margarita Martinez (Steven) of Pocatello, Idaho; Victoria Martinez of Blackfoot, Idaho; Socorro and Mikhail Angert of Chandler, Arizona; Maria Martinez and Justin Cornejo of Bakersfield, California; Bernicey Martinez and their fur babies, Dios and Silas, of Blythe, California; Rudy and Christina Martinez of Las Vegas, Nevada; Sandra Martinez of Chandler, Arizona; and Genissa Martinez of Bakersfield, California; along with two nieces and four soon to be five nephews.

Maria is also survived by her aunts and uncle: Maria Del Jesus Sanchez of El Centro, California; Guadalupe Martinez Victoria of Bakersfield, California; and Dolores Martinez Victoria (Rogerio Vega Jr.) of Bakersfield, California, Emilio Martinez (Artemisa) of Ejido Sinaloa De Leyva, MX and many extended family members.

In honor of her generous and giving spirit, Maria gave the ultimate gift of life to others through organ donation.

A Celebration of Life will be held on October 10th from 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Blythe Golf Course 3480 Quail Run Road.