Mary Catherine Martin

A Life Tribute to Our Sweet Mary

Mary Catherine Martin passed on to her new residence in heaven on Sunday, December 1, 2019.  After a long and brave fight with breast cancer, she left this world just as she came in to it – strong in spirit and much loved.  A celebration of her life will be held at the Bradshaw-Carter funeral home (1734 W Alabama St., Houston, Texas) on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., followed by a reception immediately afterwards at the same location.

Mary was born on March 2, 1951 to George & Catherine Martin in Alton, IL.  She was a long-time resident of Houston with twelve years at the Stanford University Medical Center, in Palo Alto, CA.  Mary graduated from St. Agnes Academy and earned her B.S. in Nursing from the University of Texas.  She spent her entire nursing career caring for others, most recently at MD Anderson Hospital, at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, TX.

Although Mary never married or had any children of her own, she was “all about family” and as such, was very involved in the lives of all of her siblings along with her many nieces and nephews whom she absolutely adored.  She was also an extremely loyal friend to everyone who had the pleasure of being one of her friends and it was clear that she considered them as simply an extension of her family.

Mary loved to laugh and loved finding the humor in every situation.  Beyond her passion for family and friends, she loved animals of any kind and was “mom” to two precious schnauzers.  Mary traveled all over the world and regaled in her stories of those adventures.  Although her life ended too soon, she would tell you that she lived a very fulfilling life and her family and friends would say that she made a huge impression in the lives of all she touched.

Her six siblings and their spouses miss Mary deeply:  Ken Martin & wife Mary Ann, John Martin & wife Diane, Jim Martin & wife Henrietta, Steve Martin & wife Marla, Margaret Martin Bassani & husband Doug, and Tom Martin.  She is also survived by her many nephews and nieces: Chris Martin and wife Kelley, Greg Martin, Brian Martin, Kelly Emanuel and husband John, Melissa Vogt and husband Nick, Doug Martin and wife Julissa, Jennifer Cabezas and husband Robert, Tammy LaNasa and husband Rob, Adam Armstrong and wife Pandora, Stephanie Casso and husband David, Krista Bassani, Kathryn Hendrix and husband Dillon, Matthew Martin, and Allison Martin.  Mary is also survived by her great nieces and nephews: Cameron Martin, Blake Emanuel, Kayley Emanuel, Gavin Vogt, Hallie Vogt, Frances Martin, Lucia Martin, Madelyn Cabezas, Aubree Cabezas, and Bryce Cabezas, Grace Santos and husband Ivan, Nicole Selindh and husband Zach, Nolan Chisholm, John David Casso, Sarah Casso, and Harrison Hendrix.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count.  It’s the life in your years.” ~ Abraham Lincoln