Martha Azcuy Ybarra

Martha left Cuba in 1964, and through Spain, finally made it to the U.S. In Cuba, she had gone to the University of Havana to study accounting. She was most proud of her 65-year marriage to the late Jose Manuel Ybarra, who passed away in 2012. In the U.S., she reinvented herself and became a wonderful seamstress.

Without having a child of their own, she and her husband Jose became the second parents to lots of nieces and nephews. There were many beach trips, while at the same time she was very interested in all of their progress in school.

She was a very active and devout member of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Parish here in Charlotte, and was the seamstress for many First Communion dresses for little girls there.

Martha is survived here in Charlotte by her brother-in-law, Andres Mendez; her nephews, Joe Mendez, his wife Lara, their children, Jake and Miranda, and Andres Mendez, his wife Debbie, along with children, Anna and Jessica; niece, Ana Azcuy Acosta and her husband Zeke, and their children, Lauren and Eric, along with Lauren's husband Tony, and Lauren's children, Diego and Dezi.

In Miami, she is survived by her nieces, Caridad Marino, Mercedes Amarante, along with Mercy's son Frank, and a grandchild, Francisca Lourdes. There is another niece, Elena Villar and her two brothers, Gilberto Gutierrez and Antonio Gutierrez, along with their children and grandchildren. The nephew that was nearly her adopted son was Armando Gutierrez, and he is survived by his widow, Ana and their children.

A Recitation of the Rosary will be held at 6 pm on Sunday evening, January 4, 2015 at Harry & Bryant, 500 Providence Road, Charlotte, with visitation following until 8 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Monday, January 5, at Our Lady of the Assumption, 4207 Shamrock Drive. Interment will follow at Charlotte Memorial Gardens.