Diana Virginia Martinez Coplen
1956-2023
Diana Virginia Martinez Coplen
Our dear Diana Martinez Coplen, born May 10, 1956, passed away on April 17, 2023.
Diana was born and raised in Santa Fe and later lived in Los Lunas. She served as the elected Valencia County treasurer and devoted her professional life to public service. Diana was a gifted and animated storyteller, cook, the keeper of everything family, the life of any family gathering, and a devoted partner, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.
She was especially proud of and loved her grandchildren dearly. Diana was “the rock” of her family. Her children and grandchildren always looked to her for guidance, support and love. Everyone always looked forward to her home cooking, especially during the holidays.
Diana was an inspiration to all, especially during her brutal two-year battle with triple negative metastatic breast cancer.
Diana is survived by her partner, Gerry Armijo; her children, Melissa Rivera and Kevin Coplen (Amber); her grandchildren, Zack, Jimmy Joe, Freya and Sebastian; her brothers, Robert (Debra), Ken (Becky) and Donald Martinez; her sister, Barbara Catanach; sister-in-law, Irene Martinez; uncle, Albert Sandoval; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family and all who knew her will be forever grateful that Diana was such an important part of our lives.
A service for Diana’s friends and colleagues in Los Lunas will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 27, at Impact Martial Arts Dojo, 143 N.M. 314. It will be potluck.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, May 30, at Santuario de Guadalupe Church, 417 Agua Fria St., Santa Fe.
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
