Private family services were held at the Wasko Funeral Home, officiated by Deacon John Rentas for Martin Hernandez, 89, who passed away Thursday morning. Martin was born Jan. 21, 1923, in Camuy, Puerto Rico, to the parents of Nicolas Hernandez and Maria De La Cruz Castro. Martin traveled to Youngstown in April of 1952. He was a steelworker and later retired from LTV Steel. He was a member of the Santa Rosa de Lima Church. He loved gardening and he had a green thumb when it came to planting vegetables and flowers. He composed songs, wrote poetry and he loved to sing. Martin had a great sense of humor and was devoted to his family. He was loved and cherished by many people. His wife, Eugenia Hernandez, whom he married on Feb. 10, 1944, passed away June 20, 2009. He leaves to cherish his memory, his children, Juana (Jose) Escoriaza Rios, Juan Antonio (Elia) Hernandez, Juan Fermin (Olga) Hernandez, Miguel Angel (Marianne) Hernandez, Rosaura (Nicolas) Figueroa, Lillian (Ramon) Santiago and Samuel (Margarita) Hernandez; a special adopted daughter, Virginia Aponte; 19 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Martin was preceded in death by his parents and three sons, Ismael, Victor Manuel and Mariano Hernandez. The family entrusted their loved one to the care of the Wasko Funeral Home.