Elodia Ibarra Vega Sain was born on February 18, 1928 to José Guadalupe Ibarra Chacón and Concepción Lopez Gallegos Ibarra, in Eagle Pass, Texas, after her parents had immigrated to The United States prior to the Mexican Revolution War. Elodia and her 2 siblings, Ercilia Ibarra Flores and Anacleto Ibarra were born in Eagle Pass Texas in the area of town called The Seco Mines. As the Mexican Revolution came to an end her father Jose Guadalupe Ibarra Chacon decide to return to Mexico. It was in Mexico she spent her childhood years on a ranch they owned near Ejido de San Ramon, Coahuila, Mexico. When Elodia was a teenager, they moved to Villa de Fuente, Coahuila, Mexico. Elodia’s parents emphasized with all of their 8 children the importance of faith, family, education, and hard work. As her years progressed as a teenager Elodia completed her high school requirements in Villa de Fuente, Coahuila, Mexico.
As a young woman, Elodia admired the voice of a radio announcer, José de la Luz Vega. They first corresponded by letters, and they married on August 15, 1947 in Villa de Fuente. Elodia and José had five children: Rosa Maria, Josefina “Josephine”, Juan “Johnny” Eduardo, Elsa Lilia “Lillie”, and Luis Rey, Sr.
In 1950, Elodia, José, and their infant daughters, Rosa and Josefina, moved to San Antonio, Texas, as José expanded his career as a radio announcer and helped established the first Spanish-language public radio station in San Antonio, Texas. Shortly after, Juan (Johnny) was born. The Vega family relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas, as José’s radio career continued to advance and he established a second Spanish-language public radio station. Soon after, Lillie and Luis were born, and all their children were then raised in Corpus Christi.
After a lengthy bout with bone marrow cancer, José passed away in 1965. At that time, Elodia was 36 years old, and her five children were between the ages of 7 and 17. Despite those adversities, Elodia continued to raise their young children in a household full of love, deep faith, a catholic education, and vitality. Elodia’s Catholic faith, family, community, and strength enabled her to provide her children with a caring upbringing. Her efforts resulted in all 5 of her children graduating with Catholic educations, 3 attainting under graduate degrees from The University of Texas in Austin, and several obtaining advanced post-graduate degrees.
As her children matured, Elodia was able to enrich the lives of several more generations and many more friends and community members. Beginning in the late ‘70s, Elodia was blessed with grandchildren, and later, great-grandchildren, to whom she was an inspiration. Elodia was most proud of her grandchildren’s educational accomplishments. She often sited to individuals their accomplishments, “I have, 2 grandchildren with Doctor of Jurisprudent degrees, 1 Mechanical and Nuclear Engineer, and 1 Information Technology Service degree”. As education was most important to her, she furthered her education by attending Del Mar College in 1980-82, completing more than 30 hours of college credit courses. In 1986, Elodia relocated to Houston, Texas to be reunited with 4 of her children who were living in Houston, Texas. Although, her children always traveled to Corpus Christi to visit with their mother, it was in Houston where her entire family gathered again as a family, reliving their childhood.
1989, she re-married and further inherited step-daughters and a granddaughter. Throughout her life, Elodia showed kindness to family, friends, neighbors, strangers, and even stray pets. Elodia never met a stranger, she loved socializing and meeting new people.
Elodia loved her careers as a stay-at-home mother, and an independent sales lady. First, she worked for Stanley Home Products where she broke barriers and achieved many awards and accolade for her accomplishments. In 1980, Elodia began her second career as a home-designs saleswoman for Home Interiors, further achieving “Top Sales” successes. Her work accomplishments resulted in her traveling to numerous conventions across the U.S. and Mexico as an honoree. Throughout her life, Elodia enjoyed cooking and hosting gatherings, especially when her children and their friends would flock together to share their most recent pranks and other exploits throughout their high school and college eras. Elodia’s home was the sanctuary for many of her children’s closest friends. A place where there was always an open seat available at the table or on the couch. Elodia was also a vivacious dancer, fashion maven, and talented home decorator.
Elodia was preceded in death by her parents, Guadalupe and Concepción Ibarra; her brothers, Anacleto Ibarra, Carlos Ibarra, and Manuel Ibarra; her sister, Ercilia Flores; her husband/s José Vega (married 1947-1965) and James A. Sain (married 1989-1996); her sons, Johnny and Luis Vega, and her stepdaughters Sherry Sain, and Frankie Norton.
She is survived by her sisters Margarita Reyes and Rosa Elva Salas; brother, Carlos Humberto Ibarra; daughters Rosa Maria Dwyer (married to Dennis J. Dwyer, with granddaughters Daniela Dwyer, married to Sean L. Richey, and Davida Dwyer-Johnson, married to Nathaniel “Dano” Johnson); Josefina Daigle (married to Armand Daigle II, with grandson Armand Daigle III); Elsa Lilia Orrick ”Lillie” (married to Billy Orrick, with grandsons Justin Orrick (married to Laura Orrick with granddaughter Kelsey Orrick) and Aaron Orrick (married to Brittany Orrick with grandchildren, Kegan, Kade, and Sydney); daughter-in-law, Cecilia Vega (with grandson, Luis Rey Jr.); her grandson, Alejandro V. Vega; her granddaughter, Yolanda Vega; and her great-grandchildren, Damian Viotrillo , Mya Viotrillo, and Michael “Mikey” James Dwyer Johnson.
Elodia’s family is immensely grateful for their time with this gracious, loving, strong, and witty woman. Her memory is a blessing, and they cherish the opportunities to continue her legacy.
In Lieu of Flowers: The Vega Family would like to acknowledge the incredible work and extend their sincere appreciation to the following Hospice Groups and their caregivers.
TruCare Hospice and Palliative Care, 12808 W. Airport Boulevard #303 Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Hospice Brazos Valley 1048 N. Jefferson, La Grange, Texas, 78945
Vantage Hospice, LLC, 5718 Westheimer Road, Suite 1650, Houston Texas, 77057
A visitation for Elodia will be held Wednesday, September 20, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Funeraria Del Angel Crespo, 4136 BROADWAY ST, HOUSTON, TX 77087. A funeral mass will occur Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St Laurence Catholic Church, 3100 Sweetwater Blvd, Sugar Land, TX 77479. A committal will occur Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home & Cemetery, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079. Serving as pallbearers will be Luis Salas Ibarra, Gabriel Salas Ibarra, Bill Orrick, Nathaniel Johnson, Sean Richey and Armand Daigle, III.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.crespofuneralhomebroadway.com for the Sain family.
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