Patricia Dalferes Martin

Patricia Dalferes “Patsy of the joyful heart” Martin went home peacefully to God on Monday, the 25th of July 2022, with Woods Martin, her husband of 70 years, at her side, surrounded by her loving family, in view of her beloved gardens. She had been briefly hospitalized earlier in July and returned home with supportive hospice care for her last week, grateful and generous as ever.

To keep Woods company, she leaves her children, David and Mary Pat and their families: David’s wife Beverly Martin, their children, Zoe, Matthew, Cody and his wife Michelle and great-grandson Woods; Mary Pat’s husband Rick Livingston and daughters Madeleine and Clara; her sister, Clayelle Dalferes, and a great clan of Latimer and Martin nieces and nephews. Patsy was welcomed home by so many, among them her parents, Clay Louis and Elise Bergeron Dalferes, Woods’s parents Earle Plain and Emla Woods Martin, and her beloved sister Beverly Latimer, who died this past November.

In her final years she was blessed to have the love and support of Ana Cashpal and Mauricio Pena, and Sylvia Alva.

Born in Lafayette, South Louisiana, on the 27th of March, 1930, Patsy was educated at the Academy of the Sacred Heart at Grand Coteau, beginning a life-long devotion to the charism and the powerful women of the Society of the Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ). Patsy was a woman of profound and radiant faith, shared over many years with the community of St Michael’s Catholic Church in Houston and the Sisters of the Cenacle Retreat House. She joined Theresians International, a contemporary women’s organization, at its founding in 1961, meeting monthly with the Houston Day 1 group for over 60 years and serving as National President from 1989 to 1990. In 1960, she helped establish Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Houston and remained close to the school community all her life; she and Woods faithfully attended Wednesday Mass at Duchesne for more than three decades.

Called “Patsy of the joyful heart” by her aunt Kate, she had a remarkable gift for love throughout her long life, making friends everywhere she went. We remember especially her enthusiasm for the Houston Farmer’s Market, the hours she spent at her favorite nurseries choosing plants for her gardens in Tanglewood and working side by side with Pedro Mendoza and Nicholas Vasquez. A committed supporter of the Houston Catholic Worker House, Casa Juan Diego, Patsy viewed providing shelter and welcome to refugees and immigrants, documented and undocumented, as a vital part of her faith.

An avid traveler and gifted photographer, Patsy filled albums with images of Woods’ and her journeys—to Oaxaca and Machu Picchu, Turkey and the Holy Land, Egypt, Greece, Italy and Alaska—and her shelves with pictures of her children and grandchildren, alongside her remarkable collection of Nativity scenes from around the world.

As a docent at the Houston Grand Opera, Patsy enjoyed sharing her love of opera and classical music with young people. Many, many troops of Girl Scouts were inspired by her love of the outdoors, and of growing things, and learned to sing along to an impressive collection of camp songs.

All her life, Patsy drew strength from the words of Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ: “If one gives joy to others, we are doing God’s work.” Her family, her friends, and her communities were all illuminated by her radiant spirit and her joyful heart, which live on for all of us in her gardens: “Gardeners are people of hope.”

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from half-past five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening, on Friday, the 29th of July, in the Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where the Vigil Service for Patsy, lead by Sr. Sharon Karam, RSCJ, is to commence at half-past six o’clock.

The Funeral Mass is to be celebrated at ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 30th of July, at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, 10202 Memorial Drive in Houston, where the Rev. Leon Strieder, SLD, is to serve as celebrant.

For those unable to attend in-person, you may join the livestream of the service by visiting Mrs. Martin’s tribute page at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the “Join Livestream” icon in the “Services” section. While there you are invited to share with her family fond memories and words of comfort and condolence by selecting the “Add A Memory icon.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in her name be directed to Casa Juan Diego, 4818 Rose Street, Houston, Texas 77007.