Maria Almendarez

MARIA EUGENIA ALMENDAREZ MAY 01, 1956 - NOVEMBER 28, 2014 Maria Eugenia Almendarez, 58, entered into eternal rest on Friday, November 28th, 2014. Maria Eugenia is preceded in death by her parents: Gregorio and Maria De La Luz Benavides, and her brother: Rafael Benavides. She is survived by her daughter: Michelle Ann (Jaime Noel) Cantu; son: Jesus Alberto Almendarez, Jr; grandchildren: Jeremy A. Cantu and Carolina I. Cantu; sister: Juanita Benavides, and brother: Gregorio (Hilda) Benavides, Jr. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews including Lisa (Jay) Shah and their daughter, Paloma; niece Margot Benavides and son Rueben Matthew; niece Raquel (Tim) Bland and their daughter, Amber; and niece Jessica (Troy) Caldron and their children Tori, Tyler, Drew, and Dallin. She is also survived by a multitude of loving relatives and friends. Our beloved mother was born in Laredo, Texas on May 1st, 1956, to Gregorio and Maria Benavides. She graduated from Martin High School in 1974 and began her career at Laredo Independent School District in 1982. Her love to educate, inspire, support and guide her elementary students embodied her genuine spirit. She dutifully served L.I.S.D. for the past 32 years of her life, with 25 of those years at Katherine Tarver Elementary School as the Computer Lab Manager. Our mother was one of the first staff members that students would see each morning as they arrived to school. Rain or shine, she was there to greet them with her beautiful smile. She will be remembered for her sense of humor, her love for cooking, and her creativity. Maria Eugenia was a woman that loved unconditionally. She was a wonderful and caring mother, a loyal sister, an aunt, and a true friend to many. But above all our mother will especially be remembered for her dedication and devotion to her children. She was the epitome of the word matriarch, and past her loving care as a mother, held an incredibly immense sense of pride and purpose in caring for and leaving a lasting impact on her grandchildren. She genuinely valued her faith, family, and career, which she expressed until her last day. She will greatly be missed. We extend our love and our heartfelt gratitude to all our family and friends for your much needed love, support, thoughts and prayers during this difficult and trying time. Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014 at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels, 719 Loring at Cortez from 5 P.M. to 9 P.M. in the evening. A Rosary will be held at 7 in the evening. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014, departing the aforementioned funeral home at 9:30 A.M. to San Luis Rey Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 A.M. Interment will follow at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels, 719 Loring at Cortez, Laredo, TX 78040, 956.722.0001