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Amparo Mendoza Martinez passed away peacefully on December 27, 2010 at the age of 90. She was born on January 20, 1920 to Eugenio Mendoza and Maria de Jesus Veliz in Sabinas Hidalgo, NL, Mexico. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 45 years, Joe E. Martinez, and six of her siblings. She is survived by her four children: Hector Martinez, Virginia Zalesky Lee, Rebecca Hernandez, and Joel Martinez. She is also survived by two granddaughters, Christina Hernandez and Amanda Zalesky Boyd Michael K. , her brother, Ricardo V. Mendoza, and numerous nieces and nephews. Amparos parents immigrated to Texas in 1920 during the chaos of the Mexican Revolution and raised their family in Yoakum. After her mothers early death, her father moved the family to Mexico, where he died soon after. Amparo and her older sisters went to work as seamstresses to support the family, but the younger children were sent to various orphanages. After an extensive search of orphanages, Amparo and her siblings were eventually reunited. After World War II, Amparo returned to Texas and settled in San Antonio. She met her future husband while both worked at Metzgers Dairy. Amparo had a strong sense of civic duty and public service. One of her early goals after her children were born was to study for US citizenship, and she proudly became a US citizen in 1963. She served for many years as voting precinct judge at her childrens elementary school. She was also a long-time school crossing guard mama patrol for the children of St. Henrys Academy. She enjoyed keeping up with local and national events by reading the entire newspaper on a daily basis. In her later years she worked in the SAISD food service program at a local elementary school. Throughout her life Amparo was a talented seamstress. She sewed most of her daughters clothes even after they finished their education and began their careers. She sewed baby clothes and quilts for her granddaughters, as well as curtains and slipcovers for her home. Amparo was a parishioner at St. Henrys Catholic Church since 1950. The family would like to thank the staff of Alamo Heights Health and Rehabilitative Center for their many years of care. Services Visitation will be held at Mission Park Funeral Chapels South on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 from 5 pm until 9 pm. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 11 am at Mission Park Funeral Chapels South. Interment to follow at Mission Burial Park South.

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Amparo Mendoza Martinez

January 20, 1920 - December 27, 2010