Martha Pulsford Obituary

| | | Life Tribute of Martha Helen Pulsford We are sad to announce the passing of Martha Helen Pulsford in Sonora, Texas. She died at age 90 on May 5, 2023, following a long goodbye with Alzheimer's disease. We wish so much that her life had not ended with this devastating illness. While we know that she is at peace and that her struggles are over, there is still pain and sadness. Martha is predeceased by her husband, Mark Blizzard, parents Mercedes Apezteguia and George Joseph Pulsford, her sister, Matilde and husband, Ignacio Flores, and her brother, George Pulsford and wife, Isabel, and her nephew, Robert Flores. She is survived by her daughter, Cynthia J. Schiotis and son-in-law, Thomas G. Schiotis; daughter, Debra Ann Blizzard-Bonson, and husband William Bonson,; daughter, Diane Elaine Boman; Grand-daughter, Karina Ricaurte and husband, Andres Rivera, Grand-son, Diego Jose Ricaurte and wife, Dr. Gisela Lopez, and great-grandson Matias, and great grand-daughter, Camila; Grand-daughter, Dr. Taylor Williams and husband, Chris Reno and great-granddaughters, Josephine, and Sofia Reno. In addition, Martha has several beloved nieces and nephews including Rita Flores and daughter Andrea Flores, George Pulsford and wife, Helen, Mary Lou Zapata and husband, Thomas, and many great- nephews and nieces. She is also survived by her cousins, Martha Pilar Apeztegia, Rosita Guillen, and countless dear friends. Martha was born in San Antonio, Texas on September 21, 1932, and graduated from St. Gerard's High School there in 1949. For everyone here, Mom's positive, uplifting personality was her hallmark. If you did not know anything about Mom, you would think that she had lived a charmed life without a trouble in the world. Even in the last years of her battle with Alzheimer's, Mom never lost her sense of fun and always smiled for her guests. Her life started off with a bad case of tuberculosis and she spent a year in a sanitorium right after she married dad. What a honeymoon! But after that she would pack up the house and us to follow dad to his different military assignments. Mom loved traveling and her life as a military spouse afforded her the opportunity to live in Europe and in various states, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Mom was widowed at 33 when our father was killed in a military aviation accident on July 27, 1966. Nevertheless, mom was a wonderful mother who raised three daughters, 13, 11 and 8 on her own. She bought a house when it was more than difficult for Mexican Americans to get approved for a loan. She was the first person in her family to go to college and was a graduate of Incarnate Word. She received a degree in Art and Spanish. She taught these subjects for various school districts in San Antonio. All these accomplishments required tremendous perseverance and a love for her family and their security. Mom's passion was Art. Whether it was sewing our clothes or decorating our home, we cannot tell you how many times we painted the inside walls of our house and rearranged the furniture. She loved oil and watercolor painting as well as pottery. She never wanted to copy someone else's work. Her designs were always her own. Mom passed on this appreciation for art and design to her children and her grandchildren. Mom's other hobby was gardening. She had a green thumb and loved to be surrounded by flowering plants and green grass. Mom had another passion: little dogs. First, was Popcorn who died of old age about 20 years ago and then Sweetie. Mom's granddaughter, Taylor, who is a veterinarian, gave mom Sweetie. Sweetie has been mom's constant companion for the past 11 years. In good and troubled times, Sweetie was mom's comfort and joy. She cried when she called Taylor to thank her for giving her that dog. Sweetie was like her guardian angel. Mom knew how to be a loyal friend and she had numerous lifelong friendships. She was generous with her time and her spirit. She loved to talk, laugh, and enjoy life. As an adult, she was also our friend and companion. We will always remember and treasure our times together. It takes patience and perseverance and a love of living to make something beautiful. It is a legacy that we are so happy she passed on to her family. But through everything Mom managed to keep her priorities straight. She loved her family and friends and kept her faith through all her trials. This is a wonderful legacy and example for us to follow. Keep focused on what is truly important, not only when your life is easy, but when it is difficult too. We have one more story to tell you about mom that happened just this last week. We were ordering flowers for her funeral, and we told the florist how much mom loved yellow roses. We wanted as many yellow roses in her flower arrangements as she could get. The florist said, "You know I ordered one hundred yellow roses just a few days ago and did not know what I would do with all those roses. Now I know, they were for your mom. " Be at Peace Mom. The family would like to thank the Alvis F. Johnson Home Health and Hospice Service, Director Hunter Hohesee, and particularly Nurse Sharon Love, Nurse Nadine Johnson, and aide, Adriana Moreno for their compassionate and professional care of mom over the last two years of her life. Our thanks also extend to Becky Sullivan, NP whose monthly visits mom enjoyed. Specifically, we would like to thank Angie Ramirez, who was mom's companion and aide during this whole time and Gabriela Sanchez, who helped mom, too. We would also like to thank Andrea Flores, who spent many late nights putting together the slide show presentation for the viewing. If you would like to pay your respects, a viewing and prayer service will be held at Love's Funeral Home, 409 SE 2 St. Sonora, TX 76950 (325-387-2266) on the evening of Wednesday, May 10, 2023, from 5-9 p. m. This obituary can be found on the Love's Funeral Home website (https://www. lovefuneralhome. net) and you may add any comments there. You may send flowers to Love's Funeral Home or donate to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital in her honor if you wish. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held in her honor at 10:00 a. m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at St. Ann Catholic Church, 311 W. Plum St. , Sonora, Texas 76950. There will be a burial service at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd. , San Antonio, TX 78209, on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 1 p. m. in Shelter Number 4. Mom will be laid to rest at the same gravesite as our father, Mark Blizzard (#2782, Section W), in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery