Oralia Lopez

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ORALIA P. LOPEZ

DECEMBER 8, 1934-MARCH 22, 2020

Oralia P. Lopez entered into eternal rest on Sunday, March 22, 2020 at the age of 85.

Oralia, a native Laredoan, graduated from Martin High School where she returned to teach following her studies at Texas Women's University in Denton, TX, graduating in 1957. Oralia, known as Opi to her closest friends, married her love Leo Lopez, Jr. in 1959. After their honeymoon, Opi and Leo moved to Japan during Leo's service for the U.S. Air Force.  Opi's two daughters, Debbie and Patty, were also born there.

The family returned to Laredo in 1961 where their son Leo III was born and Oralia began her teaching at Martin High. This same year, Leo Jr. opened his dental practice. Oralia taught home economics to students at Martin High until retirement where she built lifetime friendships with her colleagues. What she taught at school she also enjoyed at home creating family meals which were always delicious and beautifully presented. Her skills were shared with her children and their friends, many of whom spent memorable times in the Lopez kitchen.

Oralia’s artistry was not only relegated to the kitchen, she was also quite talented with a paint brush during much of her life. Opi's three children inherited her gift for art which will continue to be a wonderful part of her legacy. Oralia and her friends spent many a time traveling and sharing lifetime memories amongst themselves.

In 2010, Oralia suffered a stroke which left her without speech and limited use of her right arm, but that did not stop her from communicating her love for her family and friends with her beautiful smile and clear blue eyes. She continued to paint with her left-hand creating artwork hanging in many homes of people who love her.

Oralia was preceded in death by her parents Eduardo F. Peña and Rafaela Garcia De Pena, her siblings Oscar Pena and Olga Cardenas, and her son in law Jan Paul (JP) Davidsson.

She is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Leopoldo Lopez, Jr; their children Debbie (Mark Lecuona); Patty (Moses Goldberg), and Leo III (Cindy Miller). She is also survived by her grandchildren Rebecca Williammee (Ian), Quinton Davidsson, Roman Davidsson, Leo (Polo) Lopez IV and Robbie Lopez.

The family is eternally grateful to her physicians Dr. Carlos Orces and Dr. Carlos Cigarroa and her caregivers Zulema Avalos Moya and Elvia Elizabeth Reyna García. They would also like to give very special thanks to the loving and unbounded support of her life-long friends Anna Haynes, Norma Hagy and Margie Rubio.

Private services were held Wednesday March 25, 2020.

In lieu of flowers, friends and family may honor and memorialize her life with gifts to Casa de Misericordia, PO Box 6184, Laredo, TX 78042, www.casademisericordia.org ; Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center, 1220 N Malinche Ave., Laredo, TX 78043, www.ruthebcowl.com ; or the Laredo Stroke Support Group, www.laredostrokesupport.com .

Please enjoy photos of "Opi's" wonderful life and express your condolences, share your favorite memories and sign our 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 Chapel & Cremation Services, 1410 Jacaman Road, Laredo, Texas 78041; (956)722-8850.