Marta C. Alonso De Celada Ortiz

Marta Alonso de Celada Ortiz passed away peacefully at home on June 24, 2014. She was born in Santander, Spain in 1926. Marta and her husband Jose Antonio Tony Ortiz moved to Mexico from Santander in the early 1950s to pursue farming their properties in Northern Mexico and South Texas. They designed their ideal home and moved to Brownsville in 1964. Together Marta and Tony created a wonderful life for their children and grandchildren, all the while making great new friends.

Marta was the warmest, most fun mother, grandmother, wife and friend that you could ever imagine. Her enthusiasm for life carried over to her love for her family and her favorite activities: tennis, dancing, cooking, skeet shooting and hunting. Her dinner parties were legendary and her style hard to replicate. Marta and Tony loved to gather their family for any occasion including the regular family Sunday lunches after Mass. She loved playing games with her grandchildren and tennis was Martas favorite sport. Her competitive spirit and enthusiasm for the game was inspiring to all. She was passionate about her beloved Spain. and enthusiastically followed Spanish athletes competing in tennis and other sports.

Marta is preceded in death by her husband, Jose Antonio Ortiz, and her son, Jose Antonio Ortiz II, her brothers Jose and Juan, and her sisters Ana and Blanca.

Marta is survived by her sister, Josefa Pepa Alonso De Celada, her daughters and their husbands, Marti Ken Schaefer, Ana Pepe Machado, Belinda DeWitt Gayle her grandchildren and spouses, Kenton Schaefer II, Juan Stephanie Schaefer, Nico Lindsey Schaefer, Edward Virginia Schaefer, Rebeca Peter Barlow, Antonio Ortiz III, Wayo Ortiz, Ana Teresa Machado, Guillermo Machado, Carlos Machado, Nico Gayle and Kosta Gayle and her greatgrandchildren, Juan Carlos Schaefer, Liam Andres Schaefer, and Nicholas Alexander Schaefer II. She is also survived by her brotherinlaw, Miguel Ortiz, sisterinlaw, Mari Luz Pardo Ortiz and many dear nephews and nieces in Brownsville, Spain, and Germany.

A holy rosary was recited at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 3rd, 2014, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 602 E. Elizabeth St., Brownsville, Texas.

A memorial Mass was celebrated at 12:00 noon on Friday, July 4th 2014, at Sacred Heart Church.

Special thanks to her excellent doctors, Dr. Edgar Moncada, Dr. Kalim Habet, Dr. Humberto de la Vega, Odyssey Hospice Care and her caregivers, Sylvia de la Garza, Ceci Cruz, Romelia Zavala, Tomi Campos, Mariana Arcega, Mari Hernandez, and Eunice Cigarroa.

Miguel Ortiz, Fausto Yturria, Ken Schaefer, Pepe Machado, DeWitt Gayle, Mike Ortiz, Anton Esteve and Oscar Garza will serve as honorary pallbearers.

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