Martha Eva Cordova (Nevara) of Round Rock, formerly of Stafford, Houston, and Spring, Texas, passed away on December 20, 2024, from congestive heart failure. Martha was born February 4, 1942, in Boston, Mass., to Rudolph Nevara, born in Germany, and Doris Dufault, born in French Canada.
Martha grew up in Massachusetts, and despite an unsettled childhood, grew to be a smart young woman looking forward to attending college — until she was told that “girls don’t do that.” She worked as a bank teller until she married Carlos Alvarez Cordova on September 20, 1961. The young family moved from Boston to Natick, Mass., where Martha excelled at cooking creative meals, including homemade bread and handmade tortillas; sewing outfits for herself and her children; serving as a Brownie mom and school assistant librarian; playing piano for ballet classes at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts; and reading out loud to her children, inspiring both of them to be avid readers and above-average students.
Moving to Texas in 1976 meant Martha expanded her cooking skills to add burritos and other Southern/Tex-Mex dishes. She started selling Avon, and, after her divorce, supported her family by working as a Realtor, and as an Office Manager for a number of small companies in the Houston area. She kept her mind active and learned computer skills as needed, and would inevitably became the indispensable office mom (with a pet office rat).
Through a second marriage and divorce (L. Larry Gray) and many years in AA, Martha became proudly independent, taking up fishing and doting on her cats, dogs, friends, and neighbors. She had a way of becoming the “abuela” of many friends’ and neighbors’ kids. Health issues eventually saw her move from Stafford to Round Rock to be closer to her son and daughter, who helped care for her. Her home health nurses from Enhabit provided invaluable service, becoming her advocates, getting her a motorized wheel chair, and helping get her moved to an assisted living facility. Martha’s last year was spent at the Court at Round Rock, where she enjoyed activities, socializing, and after cataract surgery, catching up on her favorite authors and puzzle books, and playing bingo, cards, and Scrabble.
Martha leaves her daughter, Danni (Pilar) Córdova Babik and son-in-law Mark; her son C. Alec Córdova, and nieces and nephews in New England who she lost touch with. She was predeceased by her parents and first husband, and by her half-sister Joyce and a half-brother.
Martha requested cremation, and there will not be a service. In lieu of flowers Martha would be best remembered by visiting your local library and reading out loud to a child.
