Consuelo Garcia Martinez

CONSUELO “CHELO” GARCIA MARTINEZ

EDINBURG – Consuelo “Chelo” Garcia Martinez, 101, passed away Sunday, September 8, 2024, at Senior Care of Edinburg.

Chelo, aka “Grandma” led a long and good life and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She came from a humble country background beginning in childhood took an active role in caring for her numerous younger siblings, and developed a strong set of ethics, values, and belief in God which she maintained throughout her long life, offering daily prayers for family members and friends. Grandma was a strong and independent person who experienced several personal and other challenges throughout her long life, e.g., the Great Depression, World War II (including having her husband of barely on week depart overseas for over two years of active combat service during World War II, as well as son Freddy served in active combat during the height of the Vietnam War), the “Cold War” and widespread fear of nuclear war, the rigors of raising a family, experiencing rapid changes in technology, changing of the Rio Grande Valley from rural to mostly urban environment, losing her husband 28 years ago, recent and prior worldwide pandemics such as Covid-19, decline in physical abilities due to advanced age, etc., and responded to these challenges in a brave and strong manner. Grandma was a member of what historians have labeled as “The Greatest Generation”, those Americans born between 1901 through 1927 of diverse backgrounds who united during World War II to achieve a common goal, by displaying love and commitment to country, a willingness to set their difference aside and sacrifice for the common good, and strong determination, faith and grit. She was a homemaker for most of her married life but at times worked outside the home in order to help support her family, as well as working alongside her husband in raising crops and cattle on their small farm. Grandma taught her children to be resourceful and thrifty and in earlier times made her own butter, ice cream, preserved tomatoes and fruit, made fruit pies of all kinds, and homemade pancakes that would put IHOP to shame. Grandma along with her husband Guadalupe were founding members of the San Carlos community and Saint Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. Her special interests including cooking, gardening, and joining her husband and family on deer hunting leases. Grandma in earlier years was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan and her favorite player was running back Tony Dorsett (sorry current Cowboy fans).

She is preceded in death by her husband, Guadalupe Martinez; parents, Jesus and Maria Garcia; four siblings, Gustavo Garcia, Jose Garcia, Celia Gonzalez, and Lucila Ortega. 

Mrs. Martinez is survived by four children, Guadalupe (Irma) Martinez Jr., Federico (Noemi) Martinez, Xavier Martinez, Rene R. (Elida) Martinez; eight grandchildren, Dax Martinez, Ryo (Laura) Martinez, Abigail (Alex) Bahun, Jaime (Erin) Martinez, Cristina (Rob) Michaels, Patricia (Steve) Gresslin, Marcos (Karen) Martinez, Adriana Martinez; 12 great-grandchildren, Emily, Harper, Kendall, Penelope, Lucas, Vivian, Audrey, Alexander, John Paul, Stella, Naomi, Aubrey; four siblings, Jesus Garcia, Cristela Orta, Elida Rosales, and Ilmarrosa (Mary) Tagle. 

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. with a 6 p.m. rosary Friday, September 13, 2024, at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton in Edinburg. Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 14, 2024, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in San Carlos. Interment will follow at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens in Pharr. 

Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.