Catarina "Catita" Martinez Sanchez

Catarina Catita Sanchez, 93, left this world to be with the Lord on the 22 day of January 2012 in Seguin, Texas.

Catita as she was affectionately known to all was born in April of 1918 to Maria Colunga Martinez and Alfonso Martinez. She was a native and lifelong resident of Brownsville.

Catita was a descendant of the Colunga pioneer family who had the first transportation buses in Brownsville. On April 7, 1940, she married Abelardo G. Sanchez and together they were blessed with five children, seventeen grandchildren, forty greatgrandchildren, and thirteen greatgreatgrandchildren.

Catita was one of the early founders of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where she was a lifelong member. Catita became a member of the Club Guadalupano in 1954 and served as their President in 1959 and then again in 1964. On Sunday, May 18, 2004, Father Francisco Acosta officiated at the Mass honoring Catita for her fifty years as a member of the Club Guadalupano. Catita was also a member of the Amigos del Valle program for many years.

Catita was preceded in death by her father, mother, her loving husband, Firefighter Lt. Abelardo Sanchez and two greatgranddaughters, Jacqueline and Chloe Sanchez.

Left behind to eternally treasure their memories of her are her children: Dolores Albert Castro, Margarita Eleazar Guerra, Retired Fire Chief Abelardo Rosie Sanchez Jr., Sandra Bryan Tiemann, a granddaughter whom she raised, Ricardo Maria Sanchez, and Alfonso Sylvia Sanchez. She will also be deeply missed by her seventeen grandchildren: Dolores Bryan Valadez, Hilda Bryan, Denise Bryan Briseo, Yesenia Castro Juarez, Juan Carlo Castro, Abelardo Sanchez III, Mark Sanchez, Celina Guerra, Maricela Caas, Juan Ricardo Sanchez, Elizabeth Vasquez, Stacy Ibarra, Jerry Sanchez, Tony Sanchez, Alfonso Sanchez Jr., Araceli Merkle, and forty greatgrandchildren, thirteen greatgreatgrandchildren, and other extended family members.

Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 and continue through 9 p.m. with the recitation of the rosary scheduled for 7 p.m. this evening at DarlingMouser. The Funeral Liturgical Service will be at 12 Noon on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 1200 Lincoln St. Interment will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park.

Catitas grandsons: Abelardo Sanchez III, Mark Sanchez, Tony Sanchez, Alfonso Sanchez Jr., Christopher Albert Juarez, and Bryant Tiemann are honored to be serving as pallbearers for their beloved grandmother. Rebecca Sanchez along with all of her other greatgrandchildren and greatgreatgrandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Visitation

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Service

Rosary

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
7:00 p.m.

Funeral Liturgical Service

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church
1200 Lincoln
Brownsville, TX  78521
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
12 Noon

Cemetery

Buena Vista Burial Park
5 McDavitt Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78521