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Kindness, strength, humor, and family values. These are a few of Tia Isabel’s attributes. Isabel was born on July 24, 1927 in San Antonio Tx. She passed away on Sunday, November 20, 2022 at age 95 from complications associated with dementia. Isabel precedes her sister Wilfrida De La Rosa. Isabel was the first daughter born to Jesús Reyes Limon and Ana María Gonzales Casillas. Her siblings, oldest to youngest are Salvador, Wilfrida, Cristina, Maria Esther and Martin Andres. At a young age, Isabel, along with the entire family left San Antonio and moved to Mexico City to be near her maternal relatives. The family remained there for several years before moving north again to set down roots in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. As a young girl in school Isabel proved herself an excellent student and immediately upon completion sought and found a lifelong employer in Laredo, TX. Isabel had great devotion for the Virgen de San Juan de Los Lagos and for many years through adulthood would make the pilgrimage to the shrine in the state of Jalisco in Mexico until traveling and walking became difficult. Isabel was a devoted daughter, diligent student and a loyal worker with a strong work ethic. At the office supply store where she worked most of her adult life, she moved up the ranks and eventually managed the store. For many years Isabel would make the trek from the family home in Nuevo Laredo to the office supply store in Laredo, TX. There she gained the trust and fondness of many clients. However, most special to her were the owners of the store, the Levy family. Isabel worked for many years until her mother’s health required more attention and she became her caretaker. She remained by her mother’s side until her death. Eventually, Isabel returned to San Antonio where she lived the remainder of her years. She leaves behind her sister Wilfrida, her sister-in-law Elodia Reyes, multiple nieces and nephews, many great nieces and great nephews who will keep her memory alive for years to come. Isabel remained single all her life and her nieces and nephews were her joy. Shared memories of “Tia Isabel” are abundant and cherished by all. Tia Isabel was always ready with a witty joke or a silly face and some helpful and very practical wisdom. She would often say in the midst of chaos and overlapping conversations, “momento publico, todo con calma y orden.” An early riser, she would start her day with coffee and pan dulce and on visits to Nuevo Laredo if you were up, you could join her for some quiet time while sipping coffee and eating sweets with her as everyone else slept. Later for minutes and sometimes hours, there would be much conversation, laughter and disagreement at times. Always so much to say and share. Always so much love. Tia Isabel will be most remembered for her devotion and love of family and her emotional fortitude. Her guilty pleasures were minty gum, fashion and celebrity gossip magazines and fresh oranges from vendors on the side of the road. Isabel, Tia Isabel or Elisa, as her mother would sometimes call her, expressed her love in simple and always meaningful ways.

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Isabel Reyes

July 24, 1927 - November 20, 2022