El Ranchito, TX: Paula Martin Perez, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and cherished aunt passed from this life on October 19, 2010 at the glorious age of 85. She was born on January 11, 1925 in Santa Maria, Texas. Paula was the daughter of Melecia Fernandez Martin and Ditino Martin. She was the baby of a family of 4 brothers and 3 sisters. Mom was the record keeper and storyteller of the family; she had so many stories of the old days to share with anyone who asked or just wanted to listen. One of her favorite things to talk about was her parent's journey from Spain to America in the early 1900s. She wanted to pass on the stories that her mom had shared with her about how they had crossed the ocean on a ship. Mom was so proud of her parent's accomplishments and success in America. She recalled often that she thought her father, Ditino was so smart and how her mother, Dona Melecia, became a midwife in the communities of La Paloma, El Calaboz and El Ranchito and along Hwy. 281. Mom took pride in that she was her mother's record keeper of the many births of the children her mom delivered. Paula and her husband, Abel, were also very well known in their community; they ran a neighborhood grocery store, farmed and ranched for many, many years in the community of El Ranchito. She was very involved with the store and always stood side by side with her husband, Abel. Her involvement with St. Ignatius Catholic Church was also one of her great proud memories. She and her friends participated in many fundraisers that included making tamales and barbacoa, to help support the Catholic Church. The whole family appreciated her concern for all the family members. If you invited her, she was there; if you needed her, she was there; her door was always "wide" open; you were expected to come in, sit down, talk and eat; you would leave only when she was ready to let you go. She is preceded in death by her parents, Melecia and Ditino; her beloved husband, Abel; her brothers, Jose Martin, Nicolas Martin, Francisco "Pancho" Martin and Ditino Martin, Jr.; her sisters, Lily Tijerina, Ramona Galvan and Concepcion "Concha" Sanchez. Paula is survived by her beloved sons, Abel (Letty) Perez, Silverio (Brenda) Perez and Mario (Sylvia) Perez; her beloved daughters, Raquel (Bill) Bohn and Rosaura "Rosie" Perez; she was a cherished grandmother to 9 grandchildren, Melissa P. Rodriguez, Omar Perez, Gabriel Perez, Mario Perez, Jr., Abel Perez III, Steven Perez, Brandon Perez, Steven Bohn and Matthew Bohn; along with 14 great grandchildren, numerous nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and many, many friends and neighbors in the community of La Paloma, El Calaboz, and El Ranchito. "Mom, Grandma and Aunt Paula, we love you and we miss you already" Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 from 12:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with a Holy Rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito. Mass of Resurrection will be held on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in El Ranchito. Interment will follow to Sanchez Cemetery in El Ranchito. Pallbearers will be Abel Perez III, Steve Perez, Mario Perez, Jr., Gabriel Perez, Omar Perez and Brandon Perez. Words of comfort can be sent to the family of Paula Martin Perez at www.thomaegarza.com Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, TX (956) 399-1331.