Sylvia Ramos Vaello, loving mother, devoted wife, elementary school teacher, and civic volunteer, passed away on June 1, 2018 in Austin, Texas. Born in Hebbronville, Texas on March 20, 1936 to Mauricio Ramos and Anita R. Ramos, she was 82 years old.
She graduated from Hebbronville High School, and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Texas Woman’s University and her Master’s Degree from Texas A&I in Kingsville. She was married to John R. “Johnny” Vaello in 1958 for 49 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mauricio and Anita Ramos, her husband, John R. Vaello, and her siblings, Ada Salinas, Hilda Gutierrez, Blanca Mora, Anita Hinojosa, Graciela San Miguel, and Manuel Ramos.
She is survived by her sister Maria Alma Salaiz (Emmanuel) of San Antonio and her children, John R. Vaello, Jr. (Sandra), of Missoula, Montana, Joseph J. Vaello (Ann) of Hebbronville, and Bettina A. Vaello Stellman (Tom) of Austin, and grandchildren, Maya Vaello, Candace Vaello, Xavier Rivera III, Thomas Rivera, William Vaello, John Stellman, Michael Stellman, Sarah Stellman, and Jacob Stellman. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Minerva Ramos, and numerous nieces and nephews.
As a teacher in the Hebbronville Independent School District, Sylvia touched the lives of children for several generations. She began her career as a home economics teacher, and upon receiving her certification, continued as an elementary teacher until she retired. To this day her children speak of running into Sylvia’s former students who tell very specific stories about what they learned from her. Sylvia also joined her husband, Johnny, every Saturday to pitch in at the family-owned Piggly Wiggly grocery. When Sylvia and her sisters gathered for holidays they created quite a stir. According to their daughters, while making tamales the sisters were “cackling hens,” laughing and telling stories. And her grandkids remember fondly making tortillas with her and eating them hot off the griddle.
For many years, Sylvia was a loyal and dedicated member of the Museum Foundation of Hebbronville and the Jim Hogg Historical Commission, where she was instrumental in the publication of the County’s 100th Anniversary Commemorative Book. She also headed the committee that published the famous “Taste of Hebbronville" cookbook. Sylvia donated her time and energy to the Hebbronville Friends of the Library, the Housing Board, the annual Vaquero celebration, and was an active parishioner and fundraiser for the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
Rosary will be held in Hebbronville at the Funeraria Del Angel Howard-Williams at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5th. Prior to the rosary, visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The funeral service will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Hebbronville at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6th. Prior to the service, visitation will begin at 8:00 a.m. Interment will follow at the Benavides Cemetery in Benavides, Texas.
The family would like to extend an invitation for a gathering after at the fellowship hall adjacent to the Santa Rosa De Lima Catholic Church in Benavides.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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