Alma M. De La Fuente

Alma De La Fuente, 64, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2023 in Harlingen, Texas.  She was born to Salome Martínez Jr. and Margarita Sierra Martínez on March 3, 1959 in San Benito, Texas.

Alma was loving, humble, giving, caring, funny, had a sweet smile, a beautiful soul, a heart of gold and was a friend to all.  She loved life.

She enjoyed going to the movies and loved for people to take her out.  Alma loved being the Drama Queen of the family and the center of attention. Alma was a very giving person who, without giving it a second thought, helped everyone who needed it. She loved her chihuahua, Cacha, more than anything in this world.

Alma was a loving daughter to her parents and siblings. She grew up helping her parents at Salome’s Grocery Store even when she worked fulltime elsewhere. As soon as she would get out of work, she would go help run the store. Alma was the “right hand” of the family, especially to her father and mother and to her best friends. Her faith in God made her strong and kept her going. A close friend expressed it perfectly, “There will never be another Alma.”

She is loved by so many. A beautiful lady once said, “We die twice, once when we are alive and pass away and the other time when our family forgets about our memories.” “So please, don’t forget me.”  – Alma

Left to treasure Alma’s memory are her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Salome Martínez Jr.; siblings, Salome Martínez III, Patricia M. Ramírez (Guadalupe), Linda Guerra; her children, Alma “Pearl” Gloria Rivas (Raymond), Joe “Joey” Anthony Herrera (Fanny), Carlos De La Fuente; grandchildren, Genevieve G. Vargas (Henry), Valerie G. Rivas, Victoria G. Rivas, Dalila Martínez, Joshua Martínez, Kylie Ly Herrera, Aliana De La Fuente and Emeri De La Fuente; and great-grandchildren, Cristina G. Vargas, Henry P. Vargas III, and Camila G. Vargas.

She also leaves behind her pet, Chacha #2; nephews and nieces, Carina S. Tamez, Angelica M. Ramírez, Victoria Martinez, Rogelio Guerra, Rigoberto Guerra; great nephews, Angel R. Falcon and Dylan and Grayson Garcia; and 40-plus godchildren (every godchild for her was a step closer to heaven).

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Jose L. Ayala, MD and staff, Dr. Brajesh Bhatla, MD and staff, the Heart Clinic and staff, the doctors and nurse at Harlingen Medical Center and Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen, and U.S. Renal Care of San Benito and San Antonio for their loving care.

A special thank you to Dr. Rafael López, MD, Emilio López, Elsie Gómez, George Gómez, Kerry, and the San Benito Medical Associates staff for their love, support, friendship and considered as her second family.

Thank you to all for your love and support during this very difficult time.

The Martinez family will receive friends and family on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home.  A recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 7 o’clock Wednesday evening. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Benedict Catholic Church. Following the Mass, Alma will be laid to rest at Mont Meta Memorial Park.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Rogelio Guerra, Ruben Saldívar, Joshua Martínez, Rigoberto Guerra, Guadalupe Ramírez, and Raymond Rivas.

The family has requested that all guests wear a facial covering while visiting the funeral home.