Mary Martha Hernandez

Mary Martha Hernandez, 75, of Zillah, WA, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on August 30, 2025.

Mary was born on August 12, 1950, in San Juan, Texas, to Sylvester and Antonia Cantu. She was the second of 11 children, blessed with six sisters and four brothers.

In 1966, at the age of 16, Mary and her family moved to Washington State, where she later met the love of her life, Catarino Hernandez. They were married on November 4, 1972, in Toppenish, WA, and together built a beautiful family, raising five children: Hipolito, Catarino Jr., Andres, Enrique, and Christina. Over the years, the family kept growing to include 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Mary was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She worked for the Department of Social and Health Services as a financial worker for 22 years, where she formed many lifelong friendships. She was admired as a strong, kind, and loving woman.

Mary’s hobbies were crafting, planting flowers, and especially enjoyed casino time with her husband while traveling across the U.S. She was also a dedicated Seattle Mariners fan who loved attending games, as well as a proud Seahawks supporter, always dressing up for Blue Friday. If there was a game on, Mary was sure to be watching.

Her greatest joy was time spent with family, especially her grandchildren. She loved gathering everyone at her home, filling it with laughter, warmth, and the delicious meals and baked goods she prepared for holidays, birthdays, and family barbecues.

Mary is survived by her husband of 53 years, Catarino Hernandez; her children Hipolito (Stephanie), Andres (Marcee), Enrique (Angel), Christina (Uriel), and daughter-in-law Candi; 16 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; six sisters; three brothers; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sylvester and Antonia; her son, Catarino Jr.; her brother, Noel; her mother-in-law, Josefina; and her brother-in-law, Hipolito.