Maria Pragedes Banda De La Cruz

Maria Pragedes Banda De La Cruz

July 21, 1930-April 15, 2023

Maria Pragedes Banda De La Cruz, 92, joined our Lord in His heavenly kingdom on Saturday, April 15, 2023. Maria was born July 21, 1930 in Mirando City, Texas. Affectionately known as "Paco," she was given this nickname because of her grandfather Francisco (Paco). Paco's passions were many, but her main specialty was cooking.  If you went to mom's house, she would make you anything you wanted to eat from scratch, and fed many friends and family, which brought her instant joy.  There was never a dull moment with mom and she always had her moral stories to share to make you a better person because mom always saw the goodness in everyone no matter what.  Paco was a devout Catholic of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Mirando City, but with the same faith she had for God, she was also a faithful servant with her loving and caring ways she had for anyone around her and never forgot the people who helped her in any way possible as she started to get older.  Paco loved calling everyone daily to see how they were doing as she became homebound.  After losing her ability to cook, mom then took technology and started to use social media and continued her daily calls to all to keep busy.  In March 2022, Paco went to live with her daughter Sue Ellen in Laredo, and she was very happy to be surrounded by those she loved but never forgot her hometown of Mirando City and her house.  Paco was able to celebrate her last Easter and enjoyed homemade tortillas, jalapeño poppers and BBQ cooked by her daughter Sue Ellen before she suddenly fell ill.  Paco is now pain-free and forever our Guardian Angel. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mariano De La Cruz; parents, Frutoso and Maria Julia Banda; siblings, Candelario Banda, Salome Banda, Higina Cristan, Sara Molina, Fidel Cedillo, Esequiel Banda, and Eusebio Banda.

Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Sue Ellen (Albert) Flores; son, Mariano (Erika) De La Cruz; 11 grandchildren, Miranda Pauline Marroquin, Seyla Ellen Flores, Kayla Sue Flores, Alberto Flores, Jr., Gael Alberto Flores, Sue Ellen Miley Flores, Haylee Alyselle Flores, Miklo Mariano Flores, Mariah Celeste De La Cruz, Christopher Rodriguez, and Mariano De La Cruz, Jr.; 7 great-grandchildren, Chelsea Mae Peña, Jesus Peña, Jr., Kamilah Peña, Izaiah Angelo Willsey, Maliah Willsey, Liberty Willsey, and Eliana Selene Salinas.  She is also survived by numerous other loving relatives and friends.

The family will be receiving condolences on Thursday, April 20, 2023 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, 1410 Jacaman Rd.; where a Vigil for the Deceased and Rosary will commence at 7 p.m.

Funeral Services will be conducted on Friday morning, April 21, 2023 departing at 8:45 a.m. from Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels to St. Agnes Catholic Mission, 324 Linder Ave., Mirando City, TX., for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m.

Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at the family plot of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: Miranda Pauline Marroquin, Seyla Ellen Flores, Kayla Sue Flores, Alberto Flores, Jr., Gael Flores, Sue Ellen Miley Flores, Haylee Flores, and Miklo Mariano Flores.

You may express your condolences, share your favorite memories, and sign the guestbook online at: www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, 1410 Jacaman Rd., Laredo, Texas 78041; (956)722-8850.