Mary Helen Martinez was born on May 9, 1938 in Blythe, Ca to Angelita Serda Garcia and Inez Gonzalez. She was the youngest of nine siblings.

Helen was always a people person and found great joy in her time with others. As a child, she attended Blythe Grammar School and Palo Verde High School, where she established friendships that would last over 60 years.

As she grew older, she began traveling to northern California with her family during the harvesting season for work. Helen spent her time with her mother helping in the kitchen cooking and washing dishes in the labor camps, (campos). As fate would have it, an extraordinary love story would unfold one afternoon during a meal break. As Helen set eyes on a tall-handsome gentleman with green-eyes wearing a white shirt and black pants, she fell in love with the love of her life.

Helen and Fidel were married on December 31, 1959. Together they raised their family of five children and in 1975 she assumed the care of her mother for the next 17 years. Life was not easy, but Helen was committed to providing support to her family. She spent many years working in the fields as a crew leader during the onion and tomato seasons, driving combines, and a crop-duster "flagger" for West Coast Flying Service. She put her gloves to rest when she became a grandmother and dedicated time to help as needed with her blessed role of "Nana".

Helen was very involved at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, where she served in Eucharistic Ministry, Ministry of the Sick, and Guadalupanas. Helen took a lead role with the Guadalupanas and loved to volunteer her time with them at the church bazaar. When her health began to decline, she found it difficult to slow down and missed connecting with her friends at church.

Helen loved her family and friends; any chance she got to sit and talk with them brought a smile to her face. She looked forward to Tuesday mornings when she received communion and her weekly visits to the beauty shop to catchup on "news" and get her hair done. Helen enjoyed sewing and quilting and found great pleasure in making keepsake blankets for her loved ones. Helen was not the wealthiest person, but she was known as a good Christian woman enriched with love that poured into her by her family and great friends. She had a way of always bringing laughter to the conversation and making people smile.

Helen entered eternal rest the evening of Wednesday, September 4, 2019 in the comfort of her home surrounded by her loving husband and five children. She was greeted at the gate of heaven by her grandparents: Victoriana and Natividad Sanchez; parents: Angelita Garcia and Inez Gonzalez; beloved newborn son: Jaime "Jimmy" Martinez; and her siblings: Mercedes Lugo; Nicolas Garcia; Manuel Garcia; Mary Murillo; Salvador Garcia; and Martina Ortiz.

Helen is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years: Fidel Jose Martinez; sister: Angelina Suffle; brother: Victor Garcia; five children: Fidel Martinez (Lisa), Victoria Rodriguez (Edwardo), Lupita Islas (Raul), Silvia Ortiz (Manuel), Inez Martinez (Angela), eleven grandchildren: Fidel Martinez, Jr. (Brittany), Alexander Martinez, Vincent Martinez, Bianca Rodriguez, Elena Rodriguez, Lisa Marie Islas-Miramontes (Emmanuel), Michael Islas, Manny Ortiz, Annyssa Ortiz, Sophie Reyna (Jose), Raymond Martinez; eight great-grandchildren, several Godchildren and numerous close friends and family.

Catholic services will be held on Monday, September 16, 2019 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church with visitation beginning 5:00 PM, Rosary recited at 6:00 PM and visitation concluding at 8:00 PM. Mass will be at 9:00 AM at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 followed by burial at Palo Verde Cemetery.