Anabella Martinez Farias

Anabella Martinez Farias left this earthly world on August 21, 2026 with her loving husband and family right there beside her. She was born to her parents Zulema G. Martinez and Ascension (Chon) Martinez on April 11, 1943 in San Antonio, Texas. She did not meet her father until she was 2 years old as he was away in the Pacific Theatre serving in World War II. The young girl with the beautiful name lived an idyllic childhood growing up in the small town of Hebbronville, Texas, living next door to her grandparents. Brothers Humberto (Beto), Ascension (Chon Junior) and Mario were later additions to her family.

She shared her growing up stories with her children and grandchildren. She made lifelong friends and roamed the streets of Hebbronville visiting with many relatives and friends and enjoying small town adventures. Her love of organizing and cleaning started at an early age She started a few fires, one when she did some brush clean up and decided to burn the brush and things got a little out of hand.

She graduated from Hebbronville High School in 1960 and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio. She always said "I was trained by the Incarnate Word Sisters". She went on to be a public health nurse and a school nurse in her career.

She met her husband-to-be, Leonel (Leo), in February 1967. He had just been commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was visiting parents and relatives during a two-week layover in Delmita/San Isidro enroute to his assignment with the 31st Engineer Battalion in Fort Bliss, and was introduced by his brother Juan, a teacher at San Isidro ISD. She was the school nurse. She told her grandmother that she had met Leonel and "I am going to marry him" and six months later on August 26, 1967 they were married.

Anabella and Leonel had their first daughter, Belinda, while Leonel was serving in Vietnam, and then came Veronica, and Leo II. They lived in Dickinson, Texas February 1969 to May 1982 and since then in Portland, Texas. Anabella had many talents and hobbies. Organizing and planning, of course, gardening, knitting, tennis, RV camping, ranching (her ideas for ranch improvement), trying new recipes, enjoying family gatherings, family dinners, with karaoke and dancing, holiday decorating, traveling to Aggie Corp March ins, weekend adventures, and running a beautiful, organized household. She traveled all over the United States, Mexico, and Europe, several times in groups with friends.

She was a devout Catholic and with Leonel and her family, a parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church since 1982. She was dedicated and faithfully served as an

adorer at the Adoration Chapel since its inception for twenty five years until illness prohibited her continuation. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters for over 40 years, having served as Regent, and as a faithful volunteer in the many programs and activities of the organization.

She raised three successful, educated children and the tradition continues with her grandchildren. She was most proud of her children and grandchildren. Together she and Leonel built a beautiful life with many close friends along the way and are very connected to the Martinez, Farias, and related families. If you were connected to Anabella, you were connected to the whole family. Anabella's children and grandchildren loved spending time with her and Leonel and that showed they have done things right.

The family has been lucky to have a home, lovingly called "The Hebbronville House" which was her grandparent's home, renovated to accommodate themselves, their children and their families. Many occasions, celebrations, and holidays have been enjoyed there and the family continues to enjoy their ranching traditions.

Anabella had many specials friendships and relationships and was very close to her childhood friends, her cousins on both her Mom and Dad's side and extended family. She had a special group of lady friends called the Chicken Foot Ladies and they met for lunch and a good game of Chicken Foot.

Anabella is preceded by her Mom and Dad, her in-laws Juan and Felipa Farias, her brothers Beto and Chon Jr., her brother-in-law Juan F. Farias, sister-in-law Lucilla Farias, and many cousins, relatives, and close friends. She leaves behind her husband of 59 years, Leonel (Leo), her children Belinda (Rick) Villarreal, Veronica (Gabe) Garza, and Leo II (Karleana) Farias, her grandchildren Anabella Villarreal, Daniel Garza, Mia Villarreal, Grace Garza Gabriel (Gabo) Abner and Leila Farias, her brother Mario (Velma), her sister- in- law Nelda Martinez, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jose Adan and Diana Farias, and sister-in-law Minerva Farias, many cousins and relatives, nieces and nephews.

Anabella was grateful to have lived a good life and knew she had many blessings in her life. She asked her family to remember and talk about her to keep her spirit alive, like the movie Coco. Her legacy and teachings will continue. She helped to make her children and grandchildren independent and know their roots, their family history and where they came from.

In her later years, her life became challenging and she and the family adapted to each stage and made the best of it. The family is grateful to all the physicians, health care workers, the medical support along the way. Special thanks to the caregivers at Brookdale Trinity Towers Assisted Living who tended to "Mom" during the one year she resided there.

Very special people. And thanks to daughter Veronica Garza and our father, Leonel, for leading and navigating her healthcare needs. It truly takes a village and so many were there to support her. Also the family is deeply grateful for the prayers, visits, and acts of kindness from family and friends.

A song that she wanted played at her service is "A Wonderful World". It truly spoke to her, translated her internal feelings and memories ....

I hear babies cry

I watch them grow

They'll learn much more

Than I'll ever know

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself

What a wonderful world.

Mom, as your brother Beto would say, "Forward Ho. Well done." From your husband and children, we say " For as long as we live, you will live in our hearts. We Love You".

To Celebrate her life, services will be at two locations as follows:

THURSDAY, August 27, 2026 - Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Portland, Texas (Services by Seaside Memorial Park & Funeral Home)

· Visitation 2:30 p.m.

. Rosary 3:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, August 29, 2026 –

Funeraria del Angel Howard Williams, Hebbronville, Texas

Visitation at 8:00 a.m. with Rosary at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11: 00 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Hebbronville, Texas. Graveside services will follow at the New Hebbronville Cemetery