Hortencia Martinez

Hortencia Veliz Martnez, 87, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, August 25, 2012. Hortencia was born in Laredo, Texas on August 28, 1924 to parents Asuncion Veliz and Herlinda Josefina Mercado Sanchez Veliz. She grew up in the old Azteca neighborhood on Matamoros Street where she enjoyed gardening, swimming and dancing at family gatherings with her brothers and sisters. As a young girl, she made children's clothing for a factory in Laredo.-She would use fashion magazines to create party dress patterns for her daughters.-Hortencia married and became a dedicated, stay-at-home Mom until her youngest child was in high school.-Afterward, she worked for Laredo ISD as a baker in the Food Service Department.-Hortencia loved helping out at multiple school PTAs, Jamborees, decorating floats for the annual George Washington Parade, Den Mother for Girl Scouting events, attending local political events and school fund raising activities.-She made sure that her own children took advantage of all that academia had to offer: to learn as much as they could and to participate in school activities such as scouting, sports and band.-After her children were grown and after her retirement, she along with her late husband of 50 years Mr. Luduvico Martinez, Sr. of Zapata, TX enjoyed attending various social occasions, including a lot of dances at the Laredo Civic Center.-Mr. & Mrs. Luduvico Martinez of Laredo, TX were very outgoing people and were active members of several social clubs: the Laredo Travel Club, LULAC and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Society.-Hortencia was a person of deep religious faith and moral convictions.-She was a humble, cheerful, and hard-working sister, wife, mother, and grandmother who never gave up and instilled the importance of education to her family.-She embedded these values in the way she led her life and raised her children, with an unceasing dedication to God.-Hortencia will be deeply missed by her children, closest family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her siblings: Asuncion Veliz, Alberto Veliz, Antonio Veliz, Albino Veliz, Arturo Veliz, Alejandro Veliz, Herlinda Veliz Navarro and Mara Magdalena Veliz.-She was also preceded by her brothers-in-law: Rodolfo Martinez, Raul Martinez, Felipe Martinez, and Martin Castorena; sisters-in-law: Amada Martinez, Dora Martinez, Margarita Martinez, Antonia G. Martinez, and Guadalupe S. Martinez.

She is survived by her beloved children, Herlinda (Alfredo) Martinez Trevino of Houston, TX, Hortencia Martinez of Washington, DC, Cecilia Martinez of Austin, TX, Rose (Jaime) Martinez Velasquez of Laredo, TX, Luduvico "Toro" (Nelda) Martinez, Jr. of Mission, TX, Arturo (Carmen) Martinez of Laredo, TX and Jesus Felipe "Torito" (Mary Kay) Martinez of San Antonio, TX. She is also survived by numerous adored grandchildren and other loved relatives and friends.

The family would like to express their utmost gratitude to Dr. J.R. Garcia, the Nurses and Staff at Doctors Hospital's ICU and ER, the Wound Care Division at Providence, Dr. Yamaguchi, Friendly Care Home Health Nurses, Deacon Ray Guevara and Father Michael De Leon from Divine Mercy Church, Father Juan Ayala from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and, lastly, her much loved family and friends.

Arrangements are under the direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels, 1410 Jacaman Rd., Laredo, Texas 78041, (956) 722-8850.