Leticia Esquivel Martinez, better known as "Leti" by those who knew and loved her, died
peacefully at age 85 at her home of 51 years on Wednesday, December 13 th , 2023 in Laredo,
Texas. She was born in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico on December 4 th , 1938 to Fausto
Esquivel and Socorro Rangel de Esquivel. She had five brothers and sisters, Socorro Quijano
(Victor), Hermina Pro (Gilberto), Martha Schwebel (Herbert), Juan Esquivel (Elaine), and Fausto
Esquivel (Rachel). She was married to Gilberto "Beto" Martinez-Valle with whom she had two
children, Marina Raymond (Michael), and Gilberto Martinez Jr. She also helped raise her
nephew Gerardo Schwebel (Olinda) who became the big brother of the family. Besides her
husband, children and grandchildren whom she loved more than life itself, Leti's other love was
her work. She worked 48 years as a Medical Assistant for Dr. Joaquin G. Cigarroa, Jr. There she
met and worked with hundreds upon hundreds of patients befriending most of them over her
career. She worked for other members of the Cigarroa family, but most especially with Dr.
Cigarroa's mother, Josefina, as an assistant and treasured her as both a mentor and friend. She
always considered her patients and co-workers as part of her extended family. Leticia leaves
behind a legacy of love, dedication, but above all, hard work. She valued and instilled the desire
to work as hard as possible, never asking for anything she did not earn. Loyalty was also of
utmost importance to her, instilling this in her family as well. Asked why she worked so hard,
Leti would often answer that it was her passion in life and indeed one of the saddest days for
her was when she retired and left her patients behind.
A lover of education, Leti's greatest accomplishment was seeing all her children and
grandchildren achieve success in their chosen fields and in their educational pursuits, all whom
achieved advanced degrees. Leti, along with her husband, both completed their high school
diplomas and continued their education at Laredo College. She often spoke highly of the
Continuing Education department at Laredo College where she made many friends.
Leti also cherished her church, Sinai Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday school for
many years. Every week she prepared her lessons and shared them with the church youth. She
was very proud to see them all achieve their highest potential in Christianity and many of them
kept her as a mentor through the years.
Leti was also an avid political junkie, never missing the chance to help out her favorite
politician, The Honorable Judith Pappas Zaffirini at every election cycle. Never missing a chance
to vote, she voted in every election from the day she registered to vote up until 2016. Her
favorite vote however, was in 2012 when she voted for her son Dr. Gilberto Martinez Jr., when
he successfully ran for the Board of Trustees of her beloved Laredo College.
Leti also leaves behind a love matched by no other. She loved her children deeply, but more
importantly she loved her husband Beto with every fiber of her being. From the day they met to
the day she left this earth, she loved no one more.

Leti was a dedicated wife, mother, sister, and friend; those who knew her will miss her deeply.
She is is survived by her husband Gilberto, her honorary son Gerry (Olinda), her daughter

Marina (Michael), her son Gilberto, Jr., her brother Fausto (Rachel), her sister-in-law Elaine, her
grandchildren: Gerry, Jr. (Julie), Dante (Alysse), Gabrielle (Richard), Michael John (Kendall);
sisters-in-Law: Dora, Maria Elena (Jose Maria), Ofelia (Guadalupe); and brothers-in-law: Jose
Trinidad (Leticia) and Marcos, as well as countless nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents Fausto and Socorro, her sister Socorro , brother-in-law
Victor, her sister Herminia and brother-in-law Gilberto, her sister Martha and brother in law
Herbert, and her brother Juan and Father-in-law Jose Trinidad and Mother-in-law Antonia

Visitation will be held on Wednesday December 27 th from 4:00pm to 9:00pm with religious service
starting at 7:00pm at Hernandez-Lopez funeral home, 800 Boston St. Laredo, TX. 78040.