Mary Colunga Martinez daughter of Andres Colunga and Jesusa Arguijo who was raised in the Kenwood neighborhood of north central San Antonio joined her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 6, 2016.

Mary, a life long San Antonio resident and St. Ann's parishioner, lived in Dallas for a brief two and one-half years, with her daughter and son-in-law, Flora and Michael Hernandez. While she was loved dearly and enjoyed Dallas, she missed her tacos from Lucy's, her friends from the Kenwood Senior Center, group bus trips to many casinos and the rich robust lively culture of her beloved city.

Mary was Blessed with many friends and never met a stranger she could not influence with her cheerful heart and calming and giving spirit. She had many nicknames but two were at the forefront: Mary Mariachis and Mary Penny Slot. If you were her friend, then she greeted you on your birthday at dawn with her rendition of the "Mananitas". She also sang this song for every birthday at the Kenwood Senior Center. She and her mother Jesusa were regulars at the Alameda Theater during the golden age of Mexican Cinema, which made the traditional Mariachi music so popular. At the Alameda, she saw the artists for whom she would come to love all of her life: Pedro Infante, Lola Beltran and Jose Alfredo Jimenez. Paul Teas, a most beloved friend, gave her the name Mary Penny Slot after he and his wife Millie had taken her to Windstar World Casino. They had a lasting and enduring friendship, which would last until 2016. They entered the next life within two weeks of each other's passing.

Mary was born on September 12, 1923. As a child, her father taught her to count in Reales, a currency of Mexico, which was equivalent to 12.5 cents. She quickly became a math-minded ace and sold fruit at the age of six. The times were desperate in the Great Depression and she went to work for a family caring for their children and cooking, even though she was a child herself. Her weekly wage was three dollars and for a short time this was the only income her family of eleven received. Mamma Mercy, a young African American lady, with whom she shared cooking duties, honed her culinary skills. Her corn bread dressing and candied yams are legendary. Flour tortillas became her staple. She cared for her grandson, Michael Ryan Hernandez, as an infant and child in Virginia where she was the toast of the neighborhood and every neighbor, regardless of age, waited with anticipation for her flour tortillas hot of the grill.

As a teenager she and her family earned a living as migrant farmworkers. She adored her father who admired her work ethic in the fields working toe to toe with her elder brothers for a fruitful wage.

During World War II, she served our troops by working at Fort Sam Houston as a War Time Machine Operator sealing packages of K-Rations that were airlifted to our servicemen in battle. After the war ended, she remained employed at Fort Sam until her childhood sweetheart, John Lopez Martinez, had ceremoniously returned from the war and asked for her hand in marriage. He preceded her in death after forty-four years of marriage on August 3rd, 1990.

By God's hand, she was unable to bare children. So, she opened her soul to a newborn child she and her husband adopted and named Flora Jean Martinez. Their generous spirit would motivate them to adopt twins, Jesse and Delia when they were nine years of age. Mary and John owned and operated a Phillips 66 service station, at the corner of Ashby and North Flores. There Flora, Jesse and Delia learned the value of a dollar and would work to serve the customer.

Flora, Michael, Michael Ryan, Jesse and Rosie would like to thank Senora Piedad Martinez, Lupe Martinez and Emma Martinez for their kindness, love and care during Mary's last years of her life. This beautiful trio helped Flora care for her mother at home. Also, we would like to thank Doctor David Garza and Doctor Lisa Forbess of Dallas, Texas for increasing her quality of life.

Mary had three children who survive her: her daughter Flora, son-in-law, Michael Hernandez and grandson, Michael Ryan Hernandez, her son Jesse Martinez, Rosie her daughter-in-law and grandchildren Jesse Jr., Pauline Marie and Matthew Clay; daughter Delia Freer of Virginia, grandchildren Erika, Jason, Natasha and Katrina.

Mary's sister Elvira Hernandez remains as the matriarch of the Colunga family. She has many beautiful children who generously loved Mary. Mary Sue and Sonia daughters of her beloved sister Elisa constantly communicated with Mary and surrounded her with love. Mary's sister Beatrice joined our Lord on December 12, 2015 and her daughter Elizabeth who also cared for her mother in her home survives her along with sons Raymond and John. Mary's life would not have been complete in Dallas without the many visits from her immediate family from San Antonio.

Visitation will begin on Tuesday, March 15, at 5:00 P.M. with a Celebration of Life service to be held at 6:00 P.M at the Angelus Chapel. Funeral Mass will be offered on Wednesday, March 16, at 9:45 A.M. at St. Ann's Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.