Alejandro “Alex” B. Martinez, Age 63 of Floresville, TX entered eternal rest on Friday, July 28, 2023. Alex was born June 1, 1960 in Sinton, TX to the late Clemente and Lydia Botello Martinez. Alex married Mary Christi Villanueva on May 4, 1981 in Kenedy. He was a loving Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle, a Process Operator for Ashland Manufacturing for 44 years in Kenedy and of the Catholic Faith.
Alex is preceded in death by his parents, Clemente and Lydia Botello Martinez.
Alex is survived by his loving wife, Mary Christi Villanueva Martinez of Floresville; daughter, Jessica Kate Martinez of Portland, Oregon; son, Alejandro Martinez, Jr. of Floresville; sisters, Sylvia Albiar of Victoria, Ida Gonzales of Kenedy, Grace Martinez of Kenedy, Elsa Martinez of Kenedy; numerous nieces and nephews and his beloved pets, Ranger and Cash.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 2, 2023 from 10AM to 12PM with a Holy Rosary to be recited at 12PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in the Loma Alta Cemetery in Kenedy, TX.
Serving as Pallbearers will be: Michael Salinas, Edward Villanueva, David Lerma, Jr., Indy Hinojosa, Brandon Vasquez, and David Ferron.
Jose R. Hernandez, Jr. passed away peacefully at the age of 71, on July 25, 2023 with his loving family at his bedside as he entered his eternal home.
Jose was born on February 19, 1952 in Kenedy, TX to Jose and Josephina Hernandez, Sr. A native of Kenedy Texas, Jose dedicated over twenty years working for Everest Minerals Corporation and over nineteen years at the City of Kenedy where he retired in 2016. Jose was a lifelong member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kenedy, TX.
Jose enjoyed spending time with family and sharing stories of the good old days while enjoying a few cold ones. Jose enjoyed watching and cheering on his Dallas Cowboys and the Atlanta Braves. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his beautiful grandkids, and watching them play sports. Popo Joe was their biggest fan and couldn’t wait to give them a big hug while telling them how proud he was.
Jose was preceded in death by his parents Jose and Josephina Hernandez, Sr. Wife Juanita Lopez Hernandez, sister Rafela Salinas, sister Maggie Morales, sister Ida Hernandez, brother-in-law Charles (Yolanda) Lopez, and sister-in-law Rosalinda Lopez.
Jose is survived by his son Jose (Bridgit) L. Hernandez, III of Kenedy, son Martin P. Hernandez (Nicole) of Norfolk, VA, life partner Sharon Chesser of Kenedy, sister Adelfa “Chita” (Domingo) Medina of Kenedy, brother Juan Hernandez of Hondo, TX, sister-in-law Rose Marie (Rudy) Elizondo of Kenedy, sister-in-law Virginia Fanning of Kenedy, sister-in-law Martha (Robby) Richardson of Kenedy, sister-in-law Saralyn (Larry) Ferguson of Kenedy, brother-in-law Johnnie Lopez of Kenedy, grandsons Jose “Cuatro” Hernandez, IV and Cristian Hernandez of Kenedy, grandson Kaleb Hernandez of Norfolk, VA, granddaughter Alejandra Hernandez of Kenedy, granddaughter Ashleigh Campu of Norfolk, VA, and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be Sunday, July 30, 2023 from 4PM to 7PM with a Holy Rosary to be recited at 7PM in the Eckols Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, July 31, 2023 at 9AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert Ploch officiating. Interment will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Kenedy, TX.
Pallbearers: Marcelino Farias Jr., Steven Martinez, Agapito Alvarado, Johnnie Lopez, Darrell Hernandez, and Jerome Barrientez
Honorary Pallbearers: Fernando Salinas, Pete Zamora, and Cristian Hernandez.
Elaine Elizabeth Friedmann Ricks went to be with the Lord on July 13, 2023, at age 95. Elaine was born August 14, 1927, in San Antonio Texas to Selma Klein and William Friedmann. She attended business school in Chicago, Illinois and returned home to work. On July 16, 1948, she married Lawrence Lee Ricks. She was a wife, homemaker, a mother to Nancy Ruth Ricks Harris, grandmother to Kristina Lynn Neuman, Jeffrey Brian Harris, and Melanie Nicole D’Andrea and great-grandmother to Wyatt Christopher Neuman, Morgan Lee Neuman, and Aiden Lee D’Andrea.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence Lee Ricks, father William Friedmann, mother Selma Klein Friedmann, and her sisters Helen Mueller (Alfred Anthony “Buddy” Mueller), Evelyn Psencik (Leo Psencik), Ruth Burgess (Raymond Burgess).
Services will be held at 9:30 am at Eckols Funeral Home, 420 W Live Oak St, Kennedy, TX 78119, 830-583-2533 on Friday, July 21, 2023. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 17501 Nacogdoches Rd, San Antonio, TX 210-651-6011.
Honorary Pallbearers are Jeffrey Brian Harris, Wyatt Christopher Neuman, Morgan Lee Neuman, Aiden Lee D’Andrea, Roy Wayne Cox, William Anthony Ricks, Mark Ricks, Steven Ricks, Wayne Psencik, Brian Neuman, and Tim D’Andrea.
Dona L. Blomstedt (85) was called home to our Lord on Sunday, June 5, 2023.
Born in 1937 in Kenedy, Texas, to Thomas R. Linder and Louise “Boots” Gray Linder, Dona graduated from Kenedy High School in 1956. After that, she attended Texas State University and was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. She married Robert (Bob) Kent Blomstedt in 1959, and then completed her degree in Education at Texas A&I University Kingsville after staying home for a short time to raise their three children.
Dona taught school for many years, and after she retired, she served as an Adjunct Instructor for Texas A&I University. She was active in the Texas A&I (later Texas A&M) University Kingsville Faculty Women’s Association, the Women’s Club, the American Association of University Women, and the Republican Women’s Association. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Kingsville.
Dona loved reading, playing games, and her friends, but she especially treasured the time she got to spend with her family. Those times brought an extra bounce in her steps and a light into her eyes.
A special thanks goes out to her friends at the Brooks of Cibolo, who truly made her time there special. Also, thank you Amistad Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility of Uvalde for your care for her when she needed it most.
Dona was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Bob Blomstedt, her parents, Tom and “Boots” Linder, and her brother, Dr. Thomas (Ginger) Linder.
Survivors include her children: Russell Blomstedt and Tarin (Thomas) Moffitt; a stepson, Johnathan (Rali) Blomstedt; seven grandchildren: Matthew (Gretchen) Blomstedt, Karissa Blomstedt, Jake (Michelle) Moffitt, Jordan (Whitney) Moffitt, Nick (Michelle) Blomstedt, Dallas (Kendall) Taylor, Tara (Elliott) Erstein; and eleven great grandchildren: Brady Blomstedt, Reese and Kaelyn Kuhn, Scarlett Moffitt, Colin and Elin Blomstedt, Kasen and Rory Taylor, Emmett, Beau, and Otto Erstein. Dona is also survived by her beloved sister, Jan (Ransom) Jones, and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 8, at the Elim Lutheran Church Cemetery in Pawnee, Texas, located at 427 County Road 181, Kenedy, Texas 78119.
