Marcella Lerma Sandoval Montagna

Marcella Lerma Sandoval Montagna was born on June 8, 1924 in Yoakum, Texas to Jesus & Ursula Lerma Sandoval. She died peacefully on January 6, 2021 in Austin, Tx at 96 years young. She was the 9th of 11 children born to Jesus & Ursula. To her friends, she was known as Lee. She also answered to MoMo & Grandma from her grandchildren, and later to “GG” which stands for Great Grandma; a name given to her by her Great Grandchildren and Great -Great Grandchildren. In her early elementary years, she grew up in Yoakum and Victoria. Her family later moved to Corpus Christi where Marcella attended Corpus Christi High School. While still in High School, her brother came to her and said, “Marcella, do you want to keep sleeping in the same bed with your sisters? If not, come join the Navy with me.” So she did. The story goes that she had to apply using a false birth year, because she was a year too young. She joined the Navy where she served as a Seaman First Class from May 6, 1944 until her honorable discharge on Dec 6, 1945. She met Joseph Alfred Montagna, also known as Joe or “Monte” as Marcella called him, soon after leaving the navy. Joe was also a navy man. They married on September 25, 1948. They remained married until April 1997 when Joe passed away. Marcella and Joe raised two children Berta Lee Montagna, born on May 16, 1946 and Joseph Anthony Montagna, born September 21, 1957. They spent their lives together in Corpus Christi, Texas. Marcella attended Nursing School and served as a nurse until her retirement. She also was a top saleswoman for Luzier’s cosmetics, a home-based beauty line similar to Mary Kay Cosmetics. Marcella would argue, it was better than Mary Kay cosmetics, and who could disagree with her, as her skin was always beautiful.

Marcella loved Jesus and shared God’s love with all. Her interests included her family, pets, painting, gardening, head start program, her church, Grace Presbyterian, and women’s groups such as her Presbyterian Circle & the Red Hat Club. She loved to travel. In fact, in the last 10 -20 years she had been to Alaska, Hawaii, Scotland, Greece, Turkey & Israel twice. She loved flying and wouldn’t leave Hawaii until she could see it by helicopter, which she did! She was truly an adventurous and courageous woman.

Marcella was preceded in death by her parents, Jesus and Ursula Sandoval; siblings, Mary Barrera, Roy Sandoval, Margaret Rodriguez, Magdelena Siguero, Ray Sandoval, Nellie Riojas, Rudy Sandoval, Robert Sandoval, Ruben Sandoval; her beloved husband, Joe Montagna; Marcella and Joe’s twins, Margo and John Montagna; Grandson Richard Jeffrey “Jeff” Morrow, and Grandson- in- law, William “Bill” Clark Lewis.

She was survived by her sister, Matilde “Tillie” Maker of San Diego, California, who recently passed after Marcella on January 12, 2021; sister-in-law, Maricella Sandoval; daughter, Berta Lee Montagna of Goldthwaite, Tx and son Joseph “Joe” Anthony Montagna of San Antonio, Tx; Grandchildren, Shelly Dawn Lewis Motal and husband Paul Motal of Dripping Springs Tx, Sharon Ann Mitchell and husband Joe Mitchell of Katy, Texas, Renea Morrow of Stephenville, Tx, Sherry Lynn Stockman & husband Clint Stockman of Columbus, Texas, Molly Montagna and husband Ricky Tenorio of Ecuador, Justin Montagna and wife Blisse of New Braunfels, Tx, and Jesse Montagna from San Antonio. She is also survived by her Great-Grandchildren, Chase Kyle Lewis and wife Kirsten of Fischer, Texas, Chelsea Lewis Johnson and husband Wil of Dripping Springs, Tx, Reis Lewis of Fischer, Texas, Ryan Lewis of Dripping Springs, Tx, Savannah Mitchell Clarke and husband Kirby of Spring, Tx, Evan Mitchell of Katy, Tx, Fred Morrow of Abilene, Tx, Dakota Morrow and husband Christian Matthias of Austin, Tx, Jordan Morrow of Stephenville, Tx, Shawna Morrow of Stephenville, Tx, Payton Stockman and wife Hannah of Columbus, Tx, Paige Stockman of Columbus, Tx, Presley Stockman of Columbus, Tx, Jayden Tenorio Montagna of Ecuador, Kash and Boston Montagna of New Braunfels, Tx; Great-Great Grandchildren, Lyndon and Fynlee Lewis of Fischer Tx, and two more Great Great Grandsons expected in June 2021, as well as many more nieces and nephews.

Marcella Montagna’s Services are as follows:

Visitation and Funeral will be held at Porter Loring Mortuary located at 2102 Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, Texas officiated by Pastor Mark Salmon, formerly a pastor at Grace Presbyterian in Corpus Christi, and currently the pastor of South Salem Presbyterian Church in South Salem, New York.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 from 5-8 pm.

The Funeral will be on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 11:30 am.

She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Joe Montagna, at the Sam Houston Veteran’s Memorial located at 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX at 1:15 pm. The Military Graveside service is reserved for immediate family only, as it is limited to 25 people.

The funeral and graveside services will be streamed live. They can be viewed during the service or later through the website at www.porterloring.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Grace Presbyterian Church in Corpus Christi, Texas or South Salem Presbyterian Church in South Salem, New York.

For family and friends who were unable to attend, the service was recorded: