Juanita Martinez Obituary (1935 - 2022)

Juanita Martinez was accepted through the gates of Heaven on Friday, October 21, 2022 in the comfort of her Sharyland home surrounded by her loving family. Born on May 25, 1935 to Pedro and Guadalupe Fuentes, Juanita was the youngest girl of 16 children. Hard work and strong family values were instilled in Juanita at a very young age, traits that she utilized as an agricultural crew leader for Sharyland Plantation for over 28 years. An enterprising businesswoman, Juanita used her retirement as an outlet for her personal interests and endeavors. Through her work she enabled her employees to attain the life of their dreams. a gift they treasure to this day. She was a source of inspiration to many and highly respected by all who were fortunate to know her. Although Juanita was a hard worker, she was principally a mother who instilled strong family family values and education in her children. Known as a strict disciplinarian with a kind grace and wit. Juanita nurtured her family with the same traditional values that enabled her to become the leader that she was. Her efforts did not go in vain on her seven successful children: Armando Peña, Annie Peña Garza, Rene Peña, San Juanita Hernandez, Juan Martinez, Norma Lopez and Maria Zepeda. Those strong values were further impressed upon her 18 grandchildren who would go on to become doctors and medical professionals, an attorney, a university professor, educators, and many other working professionals. Juanita took pleasure in the things many of us take for granted. There was seldom an evening that you would not find her rocking on her porch receiving friends and neighbors or sharing a meal in her unique outdoor kitchen- a space she designed and constructed to her liking. Her delicious homemade meals were shared with anyone close enough to smell the rice cooking (a family favorite and the homemade tortillas puffing on the comal. She would never miss her weekly hair appointment for the Saturday night dances that she loved. Ask anyone and they would say that Juanita was always "muy mona" whether she was going to a party or spending the day tending to her plants and house. She especially loved attending Ramon Ayala concerts and trying her luck at the slot machines in Las Vegas, Louisiana, and Eagle Pass. Generous by nature, Juanita loved gathering friends and family for a botana and Mariachi music on Sundays or playing bingo on her porch in the summer evenings. Suffice it to say that Juanita was not only the matriarch of her family but of all who were blessed to know her love and support. Left to cherish her memory and carry her legacy are her children: Armando (Esperanza) Peña, San Juanita (Eddie) Hernandez, Juan Martinez, Norma Lopez, Maria (Richard) Zepeda, and daughter in law Cindy Peña, 18 grandchildren , 12 great grandchildren, and numerous friends and neighbors who loved her dearly. She is preceeded in death by her husband of nearly 30 years. Santos Martinez, her first husband, Tino Peña, her loving children Annie Garza and Rene Peña and her son-in-law Robert Lopez. Visitation will be held Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 4:00 pm at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mission, TX with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 31, 2022 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission with Monsigno Juan Nicolau, celebrant. Interment will follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission, Texas. The family would like to thank Dr. Harold Pean, Juanita's supervising physician for more than 20 years, and her devoted caregiver, Edith Marrs, for their excellent care and dedication.