Hortensia A. Perez

Hortensia A. Perez, 93, was called home to Our Lord on September 19, 2022.  She was born in Monterrey, Mexico to Francisco and Mercedes Arizpe.  She was a wonderful wife and dedicated mother who enriched our lives with her love, guidance, and faith. She was predeceased by her parents, siblings, and her beloved sons Fernando and infant son, Horacio Jr. She is survived by her loving husband of 74 years, Horacio; her children, Susie (Robert), Eddie (Terri), and Mary (Eddie†); her grandchildren, Daniel (Tricia), Thomas (Angelina), Eddie, Lori, Carla, Terra (Miguel), Joseph; six great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. While she will be greatly missed, memories of her and the warmth of her love will live long in our hearts.

Hortensia grew up in Monterrey, Mexico alongside her siblings, Graciela, Lucinda, Francisco, Aurelio, and Hector. She graduated from Escuela Industrial de Labores Femeninas La Pablo Livas – an all-girl school dedicated to the study of home economics. It is here where she learned to sew which shaped her future in the process. Fatefully, it was sewing that brought her and Horacio together. While sewing at a dress shop, Horacio, a soldier just returning from World War II, walked in to greet his family, who coincidently owned the shop, and that was the beginning of her beautiful journey. They fell in love, married, and established a loving home in Corpus Christi. Although many miles distanced her from her family in Monterrey, she felt the loving embrace of the Perez family who immediately filled that void. Our parents built a home rich with love. A place where we could find love, peace, guidance, and security – It was her presence that made it so.  Hortensia placed God and family above everything but managed to make time to enjoy the other love of her life – sewing.  Sewing, which would continue to be a huge part of her life, chronicled the most important events in our lives. She made our christening gowns, first communion dresses, pajamas, graduation outfits, prom dresses, wedding dresses, school clothes, work clothes, and the dress in which she chose to be laid to rest.  She was happiest when she was home and could surround herself with those she loved and the joys that her home brought her.  She relished the opportunity to try something new.  Whether it was a new recipe or a new sewing technique, she always yearned to learn and do more.  This was clear from her early days in America when she enrolled in school to learn English.  She excelled in her studies and continued to learn and put her new language to use by involving herself in organizations and activities that would challenge her.

No matter what the endeavor, her guiding force was her faith.  She filled our home and our hearts with the love of Christ and made certain to foster the values and fundamentals of a Christian home.  In her later years, as members of Holy Family Church, she and Horacio became Eucharistic Ministers and offered the Eucharist to those who were hospitalized. They were lovingly given the nickname H & H by those who knew of their ministry.

Memories we hold dear are numerous, but among the best are shopping with her at Comal Cottons, birthday mornings when she would play Las Mañanitas for us – sometimes too early, the German chocolate birthday cake made from scratch, tamale making during the Christmas season, going to the Buccaneer Drive-in to watch the latest Cantinflas or Sarita Montiel movies to which she was sure bring a tray of homemade hotdogs for us to enjoy.  She enriched our lives at every turn and instilled the value of a college education. She reminded us of the importance of achievement, but she also taught us to take notice of the simple things in life like the blooms of her favorite tree – the crape myrtle, the song of her canary- Elvis, or the pleasure of a hot cup of coffee and sweet treats in the afternoon.

We are so grateful for those that helped us care for mom.  We wholeheartedly thank Stephanie whose aid, prayers, and companionship have and continue to give us comfort.  In addition, we thank New Century Hospice for helping us through difficult times. Special thanks to Patsy for the care and kindness you offered our mom – we are forever grateful. We also offer our thanks to volunteer Linda for sitting with our mom in her time of need.

We will hold her memories dear and hang on to the lessons she taught as we strive to make her proud.  Mom, we thank you for your legacy of leading a good Christian life filled with love and service to others.  In memory of her sons who passed at a young age, she regularly contributed profits from her sewing to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.   In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital can be made in her honor. https://www.stjude.org/donate

The family will receive condolences on Thursday, September 29, 2022, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Treviño Funeral Home, 3006 Niagara @ Port Ave.; with a Holy Rosary to be recited at 7:00 PM. A funeral cortege will depart the funeral home on Friday, September 30, 2022, at 12:30 PM for a Mass of Christian Burial to be held at Holy Family Catholic Church at 1:00 PM. Rite of Committal and Interment to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

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