Aida O. Martinez

February 24, 2019

McAllen – Aida O. Martinez passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by family on Sunday, February 24, 2019. She was 84 years-old. Aida was born in Mercedes, Texas to Argentina and Jose (Joe) Ortega. She is survived by her five children: Jose Manuel Martinez (Josie), Laura Martinez Ilgun, Victoria Humada (Frank), Melissa Martinez-Smith (Roland), Tina Guerra (Richard); her ten grandchildren: Victoria Guerra (David), Virginia Schaefer (Edward), Jose Manuel Martinez II, Michael Smith (Kelsey), Erin Smith, Audrey Smith, Elise Keller (Wyatt), Isabella Ilgun, Daniel Humada, Caroline Flores, and two great-grandchildren: David V. Guerra, II and Edward Kenton Schaefer. Also surviving Aida is her sister-in-law, Irene Martinez, her nephew, Noel Martinez II and a number of close cousins and nieces. She is preceded in death by her husband and the love of her life for 62 years, Roel (Roy) Martinez, her parents and her sisters: Lilia Bilbao and Julia Solis. Aida graduated from Our Lady of the Lake High School in San Antonio, Texas and attended Pan American College in Edinburg, Texas. She lived most of her life in McAllen, Texas where she raised her children and served the community. Above all, she was a loving wife, daughter, mother and grandmother. Aida was beautiful, inside and out, and lived each day with grace, humility and dignity. Her life was abundant and filled with much love, many friends, family travels, and a deep devotion to her Catholic faith. She will be greatly missed, but will forever be in the hearts of those left to cherish her memory. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 1, 2019 at 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel in McAllen with a Holy Rosary at 7:30 pm. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 10:00 am, also at Our Lady of Sorrows. A private family burial will follow. Pallbearers will be Aida’s beloved grandsons, sons-in-law and nephew. The family would like to extend a heartfelt and very special thank you to Elvira Vasquez for forty-five years of loyal service and loving friendship to Aida, and to her invaluable caregivers, Graciela Olvera, Olga Garza, Yolanda Gonzales, Abigail Montiel and Martha Jacobo, and the doctors, nurses and staff at Amara Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to The Emma Martinez Endowed Scholarship Fund at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Foundation, Office of Institutional Advancement, EITTB 1.210, 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, Texas 78539. Gifts can be made online at give.utrgv.edu/utrgvfoundation. Choose "other" and reference The Emma Martinez Endowed Scholarship Fund, or to The Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation, Inc., 101 W. Expressway 83, McAllen, Texas 78503, www.vanniecook.org.