To Celebrate a Life of Love: Martha Anne Kubicek
September 4, 1938-November 19, 2020
On Thursday, November 19, 2020, Martha Anne Kubicek, devoted mother, wife, and friend died peacefully at the age of 82.
Martha was born on September 4, 1938, in Beaumont, Texas to Heinz and Margaret Fischer. Heinz had immigrated to the USA from Germany in the mid-1920s, settling in Beaumont and quickly connecting with other first- and second-generation German immigrants like Margaret and her family. Martha took tremendous pride in her German heritage and truly cherished the close relationships with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins within her extended family, with many a reunion providing happy memories over the years.
Most of Martha’s childhood was spent in Houston and, after graduating from Incarnate Word Academy, she attended Sacred Heart Dominican College, graduating with a BSc in Nursing in 1960. It was while a student there that she met Harold Kubicek, a Civil Engineering student at Rice University, at a college dance in 1957. They later married, on January 7, 1961, at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church in Houston.
Alongside managing busy family life, Martha regularly worked part-time as a nurse, including as a Research Nurse for Baylor College of Medicine. She had a real passion for travel, especially to Europe, which she visited numerous times, meeting with relatives as she enjoyed discovering new places and people. Always highly sociable, Martha was a member of numerous tennis leagues and bridge groups over the years. Most of all, she took great pleasure and pride in her family, which includes her husband of 59 years, her four children, their spouses, and nine grandchildren.
Faith was a constant in Martha’s life. She and Harold made several moves between Texas, California, and Louisiana over the years and she was always an active member of the Catholic parishes to which they belonged. She has also been a member of the Theresians Catholic women’s community for decades, including the Day of Roses group in San Antonio for the last 15 years, and she recently received the honor of being named a Theresian Woman of Wisdom.
Martha was preceded in death by her father, Heinz, her mother, Margaret, and her brother, David. She is survived by her husband, Harold, her four children, Karen, Mark, Joseph, and Margaret, and grandchildren David and Sedona Limón, Tesa, Sofia, Paul and Andrew Kubicek, and Hal, Max and Flo Wood.
Although the impact of dementia was increasingly debilitating for Martha, her true self continued to shine through in so many ways. She was visibly cheered in the company of friends and family until her final weeks and similarly took great delight in viewing photos and mementos from her life and watching animals and birds in her backyard. Most notable was the joy she took from listening to and playing music. An avid piano player from a young age, she was able to play several of her favorite tunes with her family until shortly before her death.
For this reason, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association.
The visitation will take place at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church from 11:30 am-12:30 pm on Tuesday, December 1. The Rosary will be prayed at 12:30 pm, followed by the Mass of the Resurrection at 1 pm. The graveside service will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery (1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78209) at 11:30 am on Tuesday, December 8.