Tributes

Mary R. Sanchez August 21, 1930 – March 11, 2024 Maria was born in Canada Verde, TX (Floresville TX area) on August 21, 1930, to Alberto and Maria. Maria went to be with the Lord on March 11, 2024, at the age of 93. They were a poor family. At the age of eight years old she would help her mom cook on the Kallison ranch for the field workers, while her dad worked the field. She attended Lanier high school but dropped out to go to work to help her family. Mary worked many jobs. She once worked at a cigar company in San Antonio. Then made a move to work at Fine Silver making sweaters. She would say it was a sweat shop working all day not allowed to talk with coworkers. Then in 1947 she met the Love of Her Life, Raul J. Sanchez After dating for about a year, they wanted to get married, but Mary’s parents told them to wait. So, 3 years later in 1951 Mary and Raul were married. Shortly afterwards Raul was drafted in the US Army. They had their first son Raul Jr. 1953. Mary and Raul Jr. moved back in with her parents in 1954. Robert came along two years later 1956. Raul, Mary, her parents, aunts, and uncles moved to Chicago to work the fields. Raul, Mary, and their boys moved back to San Antonio several years later and in 1957 Rose Marie came along. And the family grew again in 1961 with the arrival Rachel. She started working as a crossing guard back then called Mama Patrols. She also went to nurse assistant school, but she said it was too depressing. She worked at Harlandale High School cafeteria for several years. Then decided to try a career in retail sales working at Fed Mart and Globe. Her passion was being around flowers. She had up to 55 plants if not more at one time. She moved to Johnson City in 1988 where her husband Raul built their dream home. They lived in Johnson City for 30 years. She worked at the Johnson City High School cafeteria. Raul was working at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park at the time they were looking for someone to work at Lady Bird Johnson resident and Mary applied for the job. Waiting for someone to call her but never expecting Lady Bird herself to call. Mary received the call from Lady Bird asking Mary if she could sew, iron, and cook? Mary said yes and Lady Bird lady bird replied you’re hired. Several years later she had to quit her job to take care of her youngest daughter Rachel battling cancer. After a long battle Rachel passed. This tragedy took a lot of years of Mary and Raul life. Mary joined the Red hatters and still tending to her flowers. She loved when her kids and grandkids would show up on weekends. As the years passed with more frequent doctor’s visits, declining health, and age they moved back to San Antonio. August of 2022, she lost her oldest daughter Rose Marie to cancer and a few weeks later her husband Raul also passed. Mary never recovered. 1 1/2 years later she is now at rest. She passed peacefully at her home. Mary will be dearly missed by everyone that she crossed paths with. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 71 years Raul J. Sanchez; parents Alberto and Maria Ruiz; daughters, Rosemarie S. Mendoza, and Rachel S. Cortez; sister Alice R Mendoza and daughter-in-law Janie L. Sanchez. Survivors include her two sons, Raul R. Sanchez (Orie), and Robert R. Sanchez (Linda); sons-in-law, Benjamin Mendoza, and Ray Cortez; sisters Carmen Ruiz, and Rosalinda Squire (Charlie); six grandchildren: Steven Sanchez, Benjamin Mendoza, Jacob Sanchez, Charlotte Sanchez, Michael Mendoza, and Victoria Cortez; six great grandchildren: Anastasia Hyatt, Benjamin Mendoza, Bella Mendoza, Alyssa Sanchez, Bianca Sanchez, and Casey Sanchez. Visitation will begin on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. with a rosary to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Palm Heights Mortuary. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 22, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church with a procession from the funeral home at 9:00 a.m. Interment will follow at San Jose Burial Park.

Tributes

Maria R. Sanchez

August 21, 1930 - March 11, 2024