Born in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, on September 2, 1937.  Her parents were Ventura Martinez and Maria Martinez.  She was the youngest of several siblings, among them Antonia, Flora, Eva, Federico, Napoleon, and her cousin Irada who grew up with them as a younger sister. She attended Ponce High School, where she obtained her High School Diploma.

On August 31, 1958, she married Angel de la Cruz Rivas, with whom she had five children: Iris, Sonia, Lourdes, Angel, and Awilda.  A marriage that lasted 64 years, until death separated them as the Bible says.  They are survived by their five children, twelve grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Our dear Ayeya, as her grandchildren used to call her, was a very hard-working woman who carried her family forward alongside her blind husband. She was a faithful wife who always supported, cared for and loved her husband until the last day of his life.  She was a devoted mother who struggled and helped her five children to achieve their college goals.  She always sacrificed her well-being for the welfare of her family, her own, her friends, her church, and her Faith.  She was a loving grandmother who participated with her love in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she enjoyed very much.  In her last days she got to know even her last great-grandchild through Facetime, who brought the best smile to her great-grandmother's face. She loved children!

She professed her faith in Jesus Christ in the 70s.  Persevering for many years in the church of El Buen Pastor in Puerto Rico.  Juan Luis Santos, Pastor and a great church that surrounded her with brotherly love and spiritual support.

She left us marked with her simplicity, service, love, hospitality, and her faith that she shared with everyone.  She loved to read the Bible and sing choruses.  Her favorite hymn was: HOW GREAT IS THE LORD, and her favorite chorus: THANKSGIVING TO THE LORD and her favorite Psalm was Psalm 121: I will lift mine eyes unto the mountains....

Her favorite art was cooking.  Some of her delicacies that we especially enjoyed were her corn sorullitos, steak empanadas, carne mechada, steak with onions, rice, and beans, etc....

How could we forget you dearest Mom, Ayeya our loving Ayeya! Your hugs, your birthday's and Christmas cards, your advice, your scoldings, they paid off! We will never forget you!  You will live together with Ayeyo in our hearts and someday we will see each other again, we will love you always!

The great family that God gave you: Santiago De la Cruz Family, Rivera De la Cruz Family, Ríos De la Cruz Family, De la Cruz Landrau Family, Atanacio De la Cruz Family, Pérez Ríos Family, Santiago Sánchez Family, López Rivera Family, Martin Atanacio Family, Santiago Hernández Family, Murillo Rivera Family and Pastor Ríos Family.