Tributes

Mary Leyendecker Bustillo was born September 4, 1925 in Rockdale, Texas to Leopoldo and Frances Leyendecker. As one of twelve children, she spent her youth picking cotton across Texas. In the 1940s, when local soda fountains were still predominantly segregated, she would fight discrimination by insisting on being served at the counter. She was stubborn in the best way, never letting what others thought discourage her. In 1948, Mary married Rudolph M. Bustillo, and in the coming years, the couple had three sons. Mary served as her sons’ room mother during elementary school, often volunteered to chaperone their field trips, and was an active parishioner at Mission San Jose. In the 1960s, Mary was awarded the Catholic Youth Organization’s Volunteer of the Year Award. She was a pillar of her community. Everyone knew that it didn’t matter what time you stopped by her house, there was always food for you. And, depending on the time of day, she wouldn’t let you leave until you’d eaten a plate of papitas con huevo, her homemade tamales, or her famous pink cookies. Mary and her husband were known for throwing celebrations that lasted for days, most famously their annual Christmas Eve party. Even during difficult times like the Vietnam War, Mary stayed true to her character. She would leave a Christmas tree up year-round, so whenever soldiers came home on leave, they could celebrate Christmas at the Bustillo family’s home. In her later years, Mary remained involved at her church, being named the San Jose Senior Citizen Volunteer of the Year. She was known to make pots and pots of rice for her favorite political candidates’ events, and she could never resist planting cotton on any piece of land she could find, including her family and friends’ flowerbeds. Mary radiated beauty with her warm green eyes and dark red hair. Well into her nineties, she would never leave the house without jewelry ̶ often wearing a ring on every finger ̶ and a full face of makeup. And Mary was always ready to pose for a picture with any visitors, in front of her kitchen cabinets. Mary passed from this world on June 18, 2020. She was preceded in death by her parents, all eleven of her siblings, and her husband Rudy. She is survived by her sons Rudolph Jr., William, and Freddie, daughter-in-law Gloria, seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and multiple nieces and nephews. The Lord has called her soul home, where the ancestors had prepared a table with dominoes, good conversation, and an ice-cold beer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Canary Islands Descendants Association. To donate, please visit cida-sa.org/donate.html. After clicking the yellow donate button, enter the amount of your donation and select your payment method. On the next page, fill in the special instructions section with “Scholarship Fund in Memory of Mary L. Bustillo.” Funeral Service and Burial Private Due to COVID-19 Precautions, per Bexar County regulations, face masks will be required at all services. Family would like family and friends to join them for a luncheon at the VFW Post 9186 at 1:30pm on Sunday, June 28, 2020.

Tributes

Mary L Bustillo

September 4, 1925 - June 18, 2020