Andrea Mercedes Polanco Martinez, age 87, of Bellville, TX passed away on Monday, May 20, 2024. Andrea was born in Arroyo El Toro, Las Bocas del Licey, Santiago Province, Dominican Republic, to Pascual and Simona Polanco.
The oldest of her brothers and sisters, Andrea, known as Alicia to many of her friends and family, was a natural-born leader. As a teenager, she met the love of her life, Jose Luis Martinez, and he would deliver handwritten letters to her while she was washing clothes by the river. Like many teenagers, Alicia was nervous about taking the letters home because she didn’t want her parents to find them. But in 1953, those letters turned into a lifetime, and the two got married. They were married for 68 wonderful years and had seven children: Rafael, who passed away at the age of 1; Julian, Elia, Juan, Franco, Lucia, and Luis.
In 1965, Alicia immigrated to the United States with her husband, bringing their six children after they settled in Haverstraw, New York. Eventually, she and Jose Luis moved to Texas, first living in Houston, and then retiring to Bellville.
Family was everything to her, and she always had room to welcome more people into her family. She set the tone for the entire family to love with big hearts and great enthusiasm. She could connect with each of her children in the way they needed it, calling all six of them each evening.
She was committed to tending her ranch, growing vegetables, collecting eggs, and caring for her animals.
Anyone who knew Alicia had a story to tell. Her daughters remembered how particular she was about her pots and pans. She had one pot that was only to be used for rice, another that could only be used for beans, etc., and cleaned them in a very specific way. And if anyone dared to mess with her pots and pans, may the Lord be with their souls.
Food was her love language; she used her beloved pots and pans to make large amounts of rice and beans. Her cookie jar was always full and ready to welcome everyone, especially her grandchildren, to her house.
She was also in charge — when she spoke, people listened. If she told you to do something, you better do it. Her sister remembered telling her, “You don’t control Luis.” And Alicia replied, “I don’t control him, but he does have to listen to what I say.”
Her family and friends will miss her tremendously, but her legacy will never be forgotten. Alicia’s life proved that loving your family with your whole heart can make a big impact on the world and will leave a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.
The family is comforted to know that because of her faith in Jesus Christ, she is reunited with her husband, Luis, in Heaven. She will be waiting for everyone else with a gigantic pot of rice and Dominican salami.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jose Luis Martinez, her son, Rafael; parents, Pascual and Simona Polanco; and her siblings, Jose Polanco, Anita Polanco, Roberto Polanco, and Cruz Lila Polanco.
She is survived by her siblings, Maria Blanca Polanco, Ramona Polanco, Elsa Polanco, Valenta Polanco, Maria Salome Polanco and Marino Polanco; her children and their spouses, Julian (Carmen) Martinez, Elia (Yurda) Ceker, Juan (Lourdes) Martinez, Franco (Jinett) Martinez, Lucia (Ramon) Veras and Luis (Sylvia) Martinez; her 18 grandchildren, Julian Martinez, Ismael Martinez, Laura Martinez, John Ceker, Oscar Ceker, Authur Ceker, Javier Martinez, Sergio Martinez, Raquel Martinez, Daniel Martinez, Adrian Martinez, Jacob Martinez, Gabriel Veras, Christina Veras, Angelica Martinez, Yasmin Torres, Sabrina Martinez and Sebastian Martinez; 14 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Visitation will be held Monday, May 27, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX.
Funeral mass will occur Tuesday, May 28, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at St Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church, 10503 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX.
Committal service will occur Tuesday, May 28, 2024 from 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX.
