Mary Alice Manzanares-Martinez

Our dear mother, Mary “Alice Manzanares-Martinez”, surrounded by her kids and grandkids in Arboles, Colorado, went home to be with our Heavenly Father on September 18, 2023 at the age of 92. 

Alice was born in Oxford, Colorado to Mariano and Senovia Manzanares, on April 21, 1931.  She had nine brothers and sisters: Marion, Lillie, Susie, Frank, George, Gilbert, Margie, Teddi, and Willie.    

Alice married Isidorro Jacquez and together they had five children: Johnny, Joe, Joanne Lillie, and Irene.  A year after her birth, their daughter Joanne passed away due to an illness.  Later, they divorced and she lived in Utah for a short stent, but resided in Ignacio, Colorado for the past 39 years.  

She was a fun, loving, caring, crazy, carefree person that lived her life to the fullest.  She loved when family and friends came to visit.  She enjoyed feeding everyone, and she was known for her delicious beans, green/red chile, and tortillas; they were the best! She loved her family with her whole heart and was loved by everybody that had the pleasure of knowing her.  She loved talking with those that came to see her.  She loved to laugh and always had a smile on her face. 

She was able to see her grandkids, great-grandkids, great-great-grandkids, and great-great-great-grandkids come into the world.  She was the best grandma to all of her grandkids.  She loved holding them on her lap when they were infants, giving them all the love, she had.  And as they grew into toddlers, she would bounce them on her lap singing her famous jingle, “dingidy dingidy dingidy ding, dingidy dingidy ding, ding.  All of her grandkids loved her dearly.

Alice proudly worked as a security guard for a few years with her cousin Lelo Sandoval (deceased).  She also worked at a hotel in Utah, where she excelled and later became a long-time manager.  She poured her heart and soul into any job she ever had, and always excelled.  She taught her kids the importance of a good work ethic.  She later had a job-related injury, leaving her disabled, and spent the rest of her time volunteering at the local hospital until she was physically unable to do so.       

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Mariano and Senovia Manzanares, brothers Marrion, Frank, Gilbert, and George Manzanares, her sisters Lillie and Susie, her daughter Joanne Jacquez, grandchildren Victor, Michelle, Johnny Jacquez, as well as many other beloved nieces, and nephews.  She is survived by her sister Margie Viegas, brother Willie Manzanares, sisters-in-law Susie and Lydia Manzanares, her sons Johnny (Candy), Joe (Teresa) Jacquez, daughters Lillie (Rick) Duran, Irene (Lloyd) Cruz, as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Saturday, October 7, 2023 at St. Ignatius Church in Ignacio, Colorado.  The rosary will be at 9:15 a.m. with the funeral immediately following at 10:00 a.m.  She will be buried at Glenmount Cemetery in Durango, Colorado.  A dinner will be held in her memory at the Parish Hall immediately after her burial.

A special thank you to Hospice for the wonderful care they provided.  They are all very kind, gentle, and loving people.  They not only showed love and care to our mom, but to the rest of her family as well.