Cruz L (Castro) Martinez

Cruz L Martinez, 97 years old, peacefully passed away surrounded by her family, on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at Creekside Village in Mishawaka.

Cruz was born on September 14, 1928 in Elsa, TX to the late Gregorio and Rosa Castro. She is also preceded in death by a son, Saul Martinez; and her siblings, Pedro, Herman, Maria Elena, and Noe.

Left to cherish the memory of Cruz are her children, Joel Martinez and Sylvia (Armando) Canul; grandchildren, Cecilia (Zack) McKelvey, Amanda (Elliot Leszczynski) Canul, and Armando Canul, Jr; great-grandsons, Silas McKelvey and Cruz McKelvey; and siblings, Josefina, Guillermo, Rosa, Petra, Carmen, Rene, Margaret.

Cruz was raised in Texas and Mexico before moving to South Bend in 1951. At an early age she started working at Martin Blad Farms before transitioning to the food industry. She started out as a dishwasher then moved her way to a cook and eventually became head cook at St. Paul’s Retirement Center. Along with her incredible work ethic, Cruz was extremely helpful. She would help her family and siblings with everything she could. Above all, she adored her grandchildren and cherished all the time she could with them, especially her two great-grandsons she affectionately referred to as her “two little boys”.

Visitation for Cruz will be held from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Monday, November 17, 2025 with a Funeral Service to begin at 12:00 pm. at St. Joseph Funeral Home, 824 S. Mayflower Rd., South Bend, In.  Burial will immediately follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Online condolences can be made at sjfh.net.

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