Martha Abello Lancho

Martha Lina Abello Lancho, 96, beloved wife of the late José Luis Lancho and mother of Carmen Van Balen Lancho, Peter Lancho, and Jorge Lancho, died March 3, 2024. Martha was born on September 23, 1927, in Havana, Cuba, to Oscar Gregorio Abello and María Luisa (Vasseur) Abello.
Martha spent her childhood, married, and had her two oldest children, Carmen and Peter, in Cuba, creating many beautiful memories there with her close, extended family. The family fled the country in the late 1950s along with others during the Cuban Revolution to escape the new political climate in their homeland, leaving their businesses and other possessions behind except for what they could carry in a suitcase. Martha's young family first moved to Guatemala where they lived for two years, with her husband, nicknamed "Pepe," working in his family's Guatemalan-based rum business, and then to Miami, Florida.
From Miami they moved to Chicago. It was there that she and Pepe had their youngest son, Jorge. When Pepe became ill years later, the family relocated back to Miami for the warm weather, but he passed shortly thereafter. Widowed at the age of 52 and left to raise her youngest son alone, Martha learned to navigate life as a single parent, which included learning to drive a car for the first time, all the while doing so with a strong will, positive demeanor, and loving support from her extended family.
She later moved to Lexington, Ky., where her daughter and her family had relocated.
Devoted to her faith, Martha was an active member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Lexington for more than 35 years. One of her favorite activities was volunteering with the annual rummage sale at the church's annual Country Fair.
She will be remembered as a kind and giving person, and as an excellent seamstress, having sewn, altered and mended countless items over the years for family, friends and others, including wedding dresses, beauty pageant dresses and more. She loved to travel, enjoying trips around the U.S. and abroad with her cousin, Zenaida, "Cotico;" trips to Europe with Carmen and Jonathan to visit high school exchange students who'd lived with them; and visits with her son, Peter, on Virginia's Eastern Shore, swimming in the ocean and bay and cooking fresh crabs they caught from his boat dock. She was also a big fan of garage sales, cooking Cuban food for her family, roasted pork, sweets, "leche condensada," and wearing yellow, "a happy color." She enjoyed countless lunches, parties, and other gatherings with her special group of female friends, Las Damas. But most of all, she had a deep love for and devotion to her family, especially her children, her daughter-in-law, and her precious grandsons, attending numerous band concerts, ball games, and celebrations. She will be missed terribly.
In addition to her three children, Martha is survived by her daughter-in-law, Susan Lancho; her sister-in-law, Dinorah Abello; her three grandsons, Jonathan Van Balen, Evan Lancho and Joseph Lancho; and her many nieces, nephews and other extended family members who all loved her very much. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Oscar Abello, Carlos Abello, América Lucía Ruiz, María Luisa Lázaga, Gustavo Abello, and Eugenio Abello.
Visitation for Martha will be held Monday, March 11, in Lexington at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1730 Summerhill Drive, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at the church at 11 a.m. Committal Service will be held at Calvary Cemetery, 874 West Main Street, in Lexington.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.