Janette A. Martinez

Ms. Janette Angela Martinez (nee Bierman) passed away unexpectedly in her home on the evening of Saturday, May 9, 2026, the day before Mother’s Day.

Janette was born in 1964 in Germany to an English mother and an American father, the fourth child and surprise baby of the family. An Army family, they settled in El Paso, Texas upon Mr. Bierman’s discharge. Known as Angela Bierman in her school years, she attended Dolphin Terrace Elementary School, Parkland Junior High, and graduated from Parkland High School at 17 years old in 1981.

In her senior year she began working at Long John Silver’s– a formative experience. It was here that she met her future husband, Sam Martinez, a police officer ordering fish filet on his break. Sam brought his daughter Kristy to meet his girlfriend Janette while she was working, and Kristy was won over after being given all the shrimp she wanted. Janette became Kristy’s stepmother when she married Sam in 1984, having been proposed to in the parking lot of Chico’s Tacos. They honeymooned in Southern California, taking Kristy to Disneyland and Sea World.

Janette had two daughters with Sam, to whom she became a working single mother after she was widowed in 1993. No man was ever able to persuade her to marry again. With the help of family and no small amount of determination, she worked every day to provide her daughters with stability, a good education, and the myriad luxuries of youth: e.g., toys, vacations, concert tickets, letterman jackets, cell phones.

In 2007, she and her youngest daughter Samantha spread their wings and relocated from El Paso to San Diego, California. There they lived together for 7 years, remaining loyal Dallas Cowboys fans all the while, and somehow not ever seeing the ocean enough to tire of it.

Janette may be remembered for her striking blonde hair; her quickness with numbers; her time as a competitive ballroom dancer; and her brief stint as a clothing model. She had an intensely independent streak and a sharp mind, which– combined with her temper, tattoos, and beauty which she wielded like a torpedo– sometimes made her frightening. She bore the tragic death of her daughter Samantha with marked, immense grief.

However, what defined the last chapter of Janette’s life was her granddaughter, Elodie. When Elodie was born, Janette’s true north swung with joy toward her. The last few years of her life she spent as “G-Ma,” doting on Elodie with gifts, special snacks, days swimming together at the pool, and adoration. She also relished taking part in the more mundane parts of Elodie’s daily life by sharing school pickup duties, helping with homework, taking her to karate lessons, and listening to her read aloud. She loved Elodie like nothing else before.

Janette is preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Martinez (‘93); her father; Albert Bierman (‘05); her mum, Daphne Bierman (‘22); and her daughter, Samantha Martinez (‘22).

She will be missed terribly by her survivors: daughter Angela Lucero (Martinez) and son-in-law Jesse Lucero; granddaughter Elodie Lucero; step-daughter Kristy Martinez; sisters Janice Torres and Janet Keller; brother Al Bierman; sister-in-law Grace Martinez; brother-in-law Gregg Martinez; nieces, nephews, and friends; and her devoted Pomeranians, Alepou and Archie.

Services will be held at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, where Janette is to be buried with her husband, from 10:00am-10:30am on Tuesday, May 26. Reception to follow at the Celebration Room on 3500 George Dieter.

Pallbearers are Jesse Lucero, Kristy Martinez, Al Bierman, Gregg Martinez, DJ Hinchman, and Nick Carreon.

The family would like to thank the Camino Real Apartments’ staff and residents for their 13 years of friendship and community with Janette.