Esperanza “Hope” Duran was born Dec. 3, 1948, to Eriberto and Elaria Martinez in McNary. Her family moved to Winslow soon after, where she grew up and lived until her passing on March 18, 2023. Hope attended school in Winslow. She took a break in high school to get married and start a family with the love of her life, Tommy Duran. She always valued education and wanted to obtain her high school diploma. After her two oldest boys began school, and with Tommy’s encouragement, she returned to high school, graduating in 1975. She worked for the Winslow school system for over 30 years. She started as a teacher’s aide helping students in the classroom. She later moved into the counseling office as a secretary. While there one of her most fulfilling jobs was overseeing the scholarship program. She loved helping students find ways to go to college. She then moved into the district office and worked as a secretary there until her retirement. Hope loved traveling and seeing new places but most of all she loved being with her family. Her love for her grandchildren was indisputable and they were a huge source of pride and joy to her. She was also a woman of great faith and loved sharing this passion with others. She spent many years teaching RCIA and was an amazing role model to her many godchildren. She is survived by her sons, Solomon (Karen) Duran and Herbie (Kristin) Duran; her grandsons, Solomon (Jenna) Duran, Nathan Duran and Nicky Duran; her granddaughter Samantha Duran and one great grandson Abel Duran. She is preceded in death by her husband Tommy Duran; her son, Tommy Duran Jr.; her parents, Elaria and Eriberto Martinez; and her sisters, Velinda Rodriguez and Ramona Antonio. Holy Rosary will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 24, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Madre De Dios Catholic Church. Inurement will be at Desert View Cemetery. Greer’s Mortuary of Winslow handled the arrangements.
