The funeral service for Manuela Nu&110;ez Martinez, of St. John’s Lutheran Home, Albert Lea, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Theodore Catholic Church. The Rev. James Berning and Deacon Mike Ellis will officiate. Interment will be in St. Theodore&8217;s Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea and one hour before the service at the church.

There will be a Rosary service at the funeral home at 7 p.m. today.

Manuela died in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday, March, 8, 2007.

She was 73. She died following the fulfillment of her last wish which was to make a cross country visit to see her best friend Dolores and her family.

Manuela was born on July 23, 1933, in Mexico, the daughter of Jose and Elena (Rodriguez) Nu&110;ez.

Manuela was a longtime member of St. Theodore Catholic Church, she loved her church.

She was very independent and hardworking. She loved to travel and often ventured to places unknown, all by herself. She enjoyed garage sales and cooking for the gatherings of family and friends, always making sure everyone had &8220;something&8221; to eat.

Manuela’s life was all about giving.

She was always the first to lend a helping hand and would have given the shirt off her back to help someone else.

Her family were the biggest recipients of her gracious giving as she loved and gave to them with all that she had.

She is survived by eight children: Luis Martinez and his wife Esther of Albert Lea, Aristeo Martinez Jr. and his wife Yolanda, of Albert Lea, Richard Martinez and his wife Cathy of Loveland, Colo., Lucy and her husband Ernesto Hernandez of Albert Lea, Ilda and her husband Brian Reyerson of Emmons, Greg Martinez and his wife Diane of Loveland, Colo., Tina and her husband Scott Talamantes of Albert Lea, Jose Martinez and his wife

Carrie of Albert Lea; 22 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister Maria Enriquez of Albert Lea; brothers Juan Nu&110;ez and his wife Esther of Austin, Texas, Robert Nu&110;ez and his wife Linda of Plainview, Texas, Ricardo Nu&110;ez and his wife Ramona of Plainview, Texas, Roy Nu&110;ez of Plainview, Texas, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sons Peter and Manuel, two daughters Armentina and Maria Elena. Siblings Alvaro , Joaquin, Eleazar, Jose Luis, Alicia, Jose and Anastacio.

Manuela will always be remembered for her everlasting smile and her keen sense of humor.