Celia Molina Martinez went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 22, 2020, at the age of 101 years old.  She was born on September 4, 1918, in Taylor, TX, to Urbano and Jacinta Molina and was one of eleven (11) children and the last surviving member of her family. Her birth occurred during the 1918 Influenza Pandemic (Spanish flu).

Celia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, friend, and neighbor.  She met and married the love of her life, Thomas M. Martinez, Sr., and they were so blessed and privileged to have five children and shared 64 years of their lives with one another in marriage. She selflessly devoted her entire life to her husband, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who all adored her.

Mother reached three important goals in life by being a faithful servant of the Lord, a loving wife, and a wonderful and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  She was a wise counselor to all her family.

Mother was a woman of strong faith in God and believed in the importance of living a Christian life. She was an active member of Grace Presbyterian Church, attended church on Sundays, and participated in the Presbyterian Women's Bible Study Circle. She was a former member of Bethel Presbyterian Church and Edgewood Presbyterian Church and active in church life participating in Sunday School, VBS, and the "Mujeres de la Iglesia" holding various officer positions. Celia was the recipient of the Presbyterian Women's Honorary Lifetime Membership Award and honored at the 2018 Annual Conference for the Hispanic Presbyterian Women of the Synod of the Sun in MO Ranch, Hunt, TX.

She was a living epistle and in her daily living she taught the Word of God by her actions and faith.  Our family is a testament of her tireless work of love and commitment to the Lord and her family. She left behind a legacy of faith and hope for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

One of mother's favorite Bible Scriptures is Proverbs 3: 5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."

Some of her greatest joys in her life were traveling throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Europe with our dad.  Mother and Dad celebrated their 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary with their family, extended family, friends, and church family with a beautiful Church Service followed by a reception. Their 50th anniversary trip was to Europe, visiting London, England; Paris, France; and Barcelona & Valencia, Spain. They were a part of history as they happened to be in Paris, France, at a hotel nearby where Princess Diana died in a car accident. They were in London, England and witnessed the funeral of Princess Diana.

Mother loved to cook for her family and it gave her great joy that it brought them all together. She was devoted to her family and cherished the time she spent with her family, telling stories, laughing out loud, and loving her family.  She was known for her sense of kindness, devotion, humor and unique laughter. Her children could only aspire to be as giving and loving a mother as she was.

She dressed to perfection in elegance and beautiful clothes. She joked about the importance of a person having PA or "Personal Appearance" meaning that it was important to be dressed, combed, and look presentable at all times. Her graceful style reflected the way she lived.

She took seriously her civic duty to vote and made many trips in person to cast her vote. She had an opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., with our dad and were guests of Congressman Henry B. Gonzales, Sr., and received a tour of his office at the Capital, a trip that had a great impact in their lives.

Mother had a wonderful and a long blessed life and she lived it to the fullest.  She was a gift to all who knew her.  Her special love will live on in our hearts forever.  She was dearly loved and already she is greatly missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by our dad, her husband, Thomas Martinez, Sr.,  and her parents Jacinta and Urbano Molina, and 5 sisters—Eva Jimenez, Maria Guajardo, Virginia Oviedo, Molly Reynosa, Omega Garcia and 5 brothers—Hernan Molina, Joel Molina, Isaac Molina, Ramiro Molina, and Martin Molina.

Survivors and those left to cherish her memories are her five children Hortense Garza (late Rene); Hilda Flores, (Sam)(Dallas); Anna Marie Perez (Roger), (Arlington, TX); Rev. Tom  Martinez, Jr. (Beatrice); Olga Yanez (Nick); 16 grandchildren—Lisa-Garza Lacey (David)( Boston); Lydia Jesko (Dustan), Sarah Flores (Charles) ; Miriam Fernandez (Jonathan); Sammy Flores (Sarah) (Dallas); Joshua Flores (Natalie) (Dallas); Johnny Flores (New York, NY); Andrew Perez, Jr. (Robin); Sergio Perez (Sandy) (Bedford, TX); Tommy Martinez; Gammy Martinez (Kelley)(Austin); Nathaniel Martinez (Austin); Jacob Martinez; Benjamin Martinez; Dr. Gregory Yanez (New York, NY); Elizabeth Yanez;  and 8 great-grandchildren—baby Cali Renay Fernandez; Lucia Grace Flores (Dallas); Eva Joy Flores (Dallas); Hallie Flores (Dallas); Samantha Flores; baby Noah James Martinez (Austin); Simon Cruz Perez, Andrew Roger Perez III and numerous nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to all of her caregivers

who took care of mother in her home.

Thank you to the nurses and doctors at Main Methodist Hospital

who cared for mother.

Thank you to the staff of VITAS Hospice for the

wonderful care they provided mother.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Grace Presbyterian Church

(in Memory of Celia M. Martinez),

950 Donaldson, San Antonio, TX 78228

OR

a donation to Meals on Wheels of San Antonio (in memory of Celia M. Martinez),

4306 Northwest Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78229.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Sunday, July 5, 2020

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection of the Life of Celia M. Martinez

will be held at The Angelus Funeral Home on

Sunday, July 5, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.

**The Service will be limited to 100 persons and if you plan to attend,

you must contact Hortense by phone or text to (210) 325-7181 or

Hilda by email at: hildamflores@att.net by Saturday, July 4, 2020.

*Due to the Covid-19 and for the safety of family and friends, the family requests that attendees comply with physical distancing guidance and avoid close physical contact during the Service.

Masks must be worn and are required.

The graveside services at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

will be held privately by the family due to current Covid-19 restrictions.

For family and friends attending the Service OR unable to attend the Service,

you may send your condolences to the guestbook of Celia M. Martinez at

The Angelus Funeral Home website address: www.theangelusfuneralhome.com