Alicia Hinojosa Martinez

Alicia was a true servant of the Lord. She was born in Laredo, Texas on October 29, 1940, to Alicia and Lorenzo Hinojosa. She moved to San Antonio, Texas when she was nine years old. She graduated from Blessed Sacrament Academy and from Our Lady of the Lake College in 1962 with a degree in Education. She adored her three younger sisters and enjoyed many good times and shared beautiful sister bonds. She was blessed with a bonus ‘sister’ in her best friend Vangie. They created a beautiful friendship/sisterhood from the age of 9 filled with much laughter, silliness, traveling and adventures.

As a child Alicia had many interests and talents. She started taking piano lessons when she was six years old. She especially loved piano recitals because she always got to wear fancy long dresses. She also learned to play the organ and became the organist at St. Stephens Catholic Church in 1958 when she graduated from high school. She enjoyed sharing her love of piano with her children and grandchildren.

Alicia married her husband of 58 years and love of her life, Roberto Martinez on July 20, 1963. She lovingly referred to him as “Feo”. They settled in Austin and raised four children while establishing lifelong friendships and deep connections in the community. She acknowledged how blessed she was that he always supported her in her own self-growth. As a true marriage partner, she too supported him in his growth, especially when he ventured out to start a partnership engineering firm in 1980. She was a core element to Martinez and Wright Engineer’s (later known as Martinez Wright Mendez and MWM Design group) success by supporting all their efforts and sacrificing when needed. She later graciously accepted the role of a deacon’s wife, forming strong bonds with other deacon couples and helping to organize many deacon wives’ retreats. Together they served their church and community, spent time with family and friends, and enjoyed travelling. Her favorite vacation was to the Holy Land.

Alicia served countless children as a teacher in Austin ISD for thirty-five years, most of those years served at Maplewood Elementary school. She was passionate for her profession and was respected and loved by her students and their families. It was not uncommon for her to be out in the community and recognized by her former students who would share how much she touched their lives. She served as a mentor to many young teachers generously sharing her knowledge, ideas, and materials. She advocated for her students and parents beyond the classroom. She never hesitated to provide food, shoes, supplies, resources or whatever was needed to help her students succeed. She taught for so long that she even taught the children of some of her former students. She was recognized as Teacher of the Year. She often stated that her greatest joy while teaching was seeing the “light bulb moments” when her students grasped a new concept. She loved being a first-grade teacher, watching the wonderment of her students learning to read.

Alicia with her strong Catholic faith, was involved in Sacred Heart parish for almost sixty years. She served as a CCD teacher, taught English as a Second Language and sacramental preparation classes, volunteered for the elementary school and Austin/Travis County summer youth employment program, worked on CHRP retreats, served on various committees, and was the president of the Sacred Heart St. Vincent de Paul Society for many years. In 2019 she received the Diocese of Austin Lumen Gentium Award in recognition of all her work at Sacred Heart parish. Throughout her life, she served many people in need through a variety of organizations.

Alicia had countless friends and made everyone feel valued and loved. She was most known for her smile, hospitality, grace, and loving, caring spirit. She created a welcoming home filled with love, warmth, and joy. She always made others feel like a part of her family and was viewed by many as a motherly figure. Many of her children’s friends have shared fond memories with Mama Martinez. She hosted many pool parties, holiday dinners, and Christmas Eve gatherings providing warm connections with family and friends. She welcomed many needing a place to stay into her home and opened her heart to any who needed a comforting friend.

Her four children consider her a saint and were frequently in awe of how she lived her life with an abundance of grace and dignity; always putting others’ needs above her own, never expecting anything in return. She lived with a peace within herself that was so calming to others. No matter the situation, she was always reassuring that everything would work out. She was our greatest cheerleader, our sounding board, and counselor. She nurtured our beautiful family bond with her amazing love. Even when she was going through her own storm, she continued to bless us with her generosity and unconditional love. She has always given us our greatest example of love in action. The communion of saints has now welcomed a new member.

She was a beautifully loved wife, mother, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, aunt, and friend; however, her most beloved title was grandma. She was an active Grandma who attended every birthday party, recital, sacrament, sporting event, and school program for all nine of her grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She had a way of making each grandchild feel like her favorite by spending quality time with them individually and connecting with them. Spending time with her grandchildren not only brought her great joy but was equally reciprocated by each one of them as they adored her and cherished their special bond.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her grandson, Miles. We can only imagine the joyful embrace she and Miles shared when she entered Heaven.

She is survived by her husband, Roberto, her children Norma and her husband, Jose, Yvonne and her husband, Greg, Robert, and Lizette; nine grandchildren Ciera and her husband Matt, Adam and his wife Abby, Jacob, Jose Andres, Daniel, Miranda, Giana, Josh, and Alyssa; and four great-grandchildren Grace, Livia, Noah Elijah and Baby Everett (due March 2022); sisters Janie (Arturo), Tillie (Adrian), Ana (Alex); and many cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

The family would like to give special thanks to Nancy for the loving care she helped provide in her final days at home.

The family respectfully asks that everyone attending the visitation, rosary and mass please wear a mask and practice social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sacred Heart St. Vincent de Paul Society at https://abundant.co/sacredheartaustin/give. Select St. Vincent de Paul under ‘Fund’. Or mail to St. Vincent de Paul at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 5900 Reicher Dr. Austin TX 78723