Antonia G Mata

WESLACO - Antonia "Tonie" G. Mata, 90, passed away on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at Valley Grande Manor in Weslaco. Antonia was born in Donna on January 17th, 1927 to Juan and Maria Garcia and she had six sisters and two brothers.Antonia met Esteban as a young girl when he was in the airforce and they fell in love. She married her first love in 1944. The enjoyed nearly thirty years of marriage and had four sons together until his untimely death in 1974 at the age of 48. Fortunately, Tonie was a very hard worker and was a nurse. She worked very hard, which was her hobby. She worked as a nurse and Retama Manor and spent most of her career at Amigos de Valle. In the later years, she drove the van to pick up patients. Tonie had a special love and passion for helping others, especially the elderly. She met her second husband, Santos, while she was working at Amigos del Valle. When Tonie was not working, which was rare, she did love to dance and listen to music. She also loved to bake tasty treats. She was very active in her church, St. Joan of Arc, most of her life supporting ladies ministries. She also kept a very tidy house, everything was always in place and she was very strict about this. She loved her children and grandchildren and was there to help whenever she was needed. Tonie is preceded in death by her parents, Juan and Maria Garcia, her husband and father of her children, Esteban Martinez Sr., her second husband, Santos Mata, her brother, Antonio Garcia, sisters, Guadalupe G.Perez, Francisca G. Reyes, Ignacio G. Cano, and Maria G. Gonzalez. She is survived by her children, Esteban Martinez Jr. (Maximalliana) of Pharr, Pedro Martinez (Yolanda) of Mercedes, Felipe Martinez (Natividad) of Weslaco, and Juan Daniel Martinez (Sylvia) of Leakey, brother, Juan Garcia (Maria), sisters, Constancia G. Oliva and Pauline Cisneros, 22 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, and 1 great child. Tonie will always be remembered as a faithful Catholic, loving mother, grandmother, and friend. Serving as pallbearers will be Juan Reyes, Ramiro Reyes, Adam Gonzalez, Jose Sepulveda, and John David Martinez, honorary pallbearers will be Steve Martinez III, George Pena. Visitation will be Thursday, August 24th, from 4-9pm, with a rosary at 7pm. Mass will be celebrated Friday, August 25th, 2017 by Father Francisco Solis at 10am at St Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Weslaco, with burial to follow at Highland Memorial Park.