Blanca Martin

Blanca Martin passed away peacefully with family all around on May 7, 2024.  

Blanca was born to Isabell and Paula Garza on December 27, 1948 along with her twin sister, Elsa, born minutes after.

At the young age of 5 she and her family emigrated from Mexico to the United States in search of the American Dream and eventually took up residence in East Chicago, Indiana.  Growing up as a minority Blanca strived for a better life.  She graduated from Washington High School in 1967 and a year later she became a certified lab technician at St. Catherine Hospital. 

She worked for a number of years until the time she met John Martin.  They married in 1974 and started a family.  In 1975 she became a mom.  She quit the regular 9 to 5 and poured everything she had into her family.  5 years later another son was born.  She stayed home to raise the kids, supported her husband and moved the family from Texas, to Indiana, to Pennsylvania and then to Wisconsin to ensure her kids had a better life than she had growing up.  She helped to provide a life of privilege filled with love and nurturing even when it was difficult to make ends meet.  Her family struggled as most do but they made sure their children were oblivious to the challenges they faced every day.

Later she and John divorced but that never stopped her from providing for her now grown children.  She found employment with Frontier Communications where she served in technical support, helping customers solve their problems and selling them new products they didn’t even know they needed.  She excelled and was awarded for her performance many times but in true Blanca fashion she bestowed many of these awards to her kids or close friends.  

Blanca eventually retired to spend more time with family.  She always put family first and took every opportunity to spend time with her boys and their growing families.  She showered her grandchildren with the same unwavering love, laughter and support she showed her own kids.

Blanca didn’t have many hobbies but she did enjoy traveling, bowling, decorating, BINGO and couldn’t resist the occasional thrill of beating the casino slot machines.  Her favorite color was purple.  She enjoyed watching football with her son’s as she was a big Green Bay Packer and Wisconsin Badger football fan.  In 1990 Blanca traveled to Philadelphia, PA to take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States and became an official citizen but if you asked her about her greatest achievements she would opt to brag about her boys and grandchildren with pride.  She always had lots to say about her son’s accomplishments and the families they themselves have raised due in large part to the tremendous influence she had on them.   A close second would probably be the time she cunningly took advantage of the Lincoln dealership of Sun Prairie and acquired a brand new Lincoln Continental for the price of a Ford Escort.

Blanca is preceded in death by her young sibling Juan Delfino Garza, her parents Isabell and Paula Garza, her nieces Paula Mendoza and Nora Kopaczewski, her brothers-in-law Sergio Antonio Gonzalez, Ronald Mendoza and Arthur Cardenas.

She is survived by her siblings Maria Elena Gonzalez, Lillian Cardenas, Elsa Fisk and husband Carlton Fisk, Oralia Mendoza and Mario Garza; her son Mark and his wife Billee-jo, her son Michael and his partner Kolina, grandchildren Kaden, Devin, Cicada, Revel and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

She is missed by so many families and friends.  We will remember her always.

A Celebration of Life memorial service for friends and family is scheduled for Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 11 AM to 4pm at Cress Funeral Home 1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie, WI 53590.

Only your presence and fellowship is requested but if you wish, please send flower arrangements to the Cress Funeral Home or make a tax-deductible tribute donation in Blanca’s honor to the Alzheimer's Association.  Click here to donate.