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Belen M. Lopez, 67, passed away at Kindred Hospital on August 20, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. Born in Galeana, Chihuahua, Mexico, she immigrated to the United States with her parents Cruz Polanco Lopez and Jose Cardenas Lopez. A gifted educator, she received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in Bilingual Education and a Master's Degree from Our Lady of the Lake University in Curriculum and Instruction. Education was her passion and she believed that it was the only way to ensure success for future generations. With that philosophy always in mind, she taught at Will Rogers Elementary in the San Antonio Independent School District for 32 years. In 1996 she would become a Master Reading teacher for the State of Texas, focusing on the needs of many more students as a Reading Specialist. Belen married the love of her life in 1982 and had two children, whom she inspired, cajoled and always encouraged to strive for more. She was the matriarch of a loving, but somewhat dysfunctional family and kept them together and focused with Saturday Family Nights that always involved her home cooking, off-color jokes and scary movies or "peliculas de misterio". She was an avid reader and preferred mystery and true crime novels that often kept her up late into the night. She loved staying up late, whether it was to watch a movie or help her children finish a project they had likely procrastinated on, she rarely went to bed before midnight and still, managed to wake up, shower and do her makeup before the rest of her family had woken up. Most of her friends and family remember her for all the good she passed on. Belen loved helping people and always made people who met her feel welcome and accepted, but she was also tough, and spoke her mind when she felt something was not right. She was an advocate, not only for her students, but fellow teachers as well and people knew they could count on her for support if they needed it. Belen also volunteered for many activities usually for her kids as Cub Scout Den mother, Girl Scout Troop Leader or Band Booster Club President. She was happiest when her schedule was full though she may not have liked to admit it. Belen also knew how to make people laugh. Her sense of humor though bordering on the inappropriate was infectious and she had a witty, sarcastic response to almost everything. She tried not to take herself too seriously and frequently said "You have to laugh at life. You are the only one who can make yourself happy." She believed there was enough sadness in the world and laughter was the only cure for it. Belen was preceded in death by her father Jose Lopez and is remembered by her mother Cruz Polanco Lopez; husband, Jose R. Lopez; daughter, Anacely Lopez; son, Jose Antonio Lopez; brother, German Polanco; sister, Blanca Rivera; eleven grandchildren and two nephews. The family would like to thank the staff at Northeast Methodist Hospital, particularly Dr. Alfonso Perez and Dr. Lauren Tarbox, who took great care of her.

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Belen Lopez

March 11, 1949 - August 20, 2016