Mary C Mendoza

Born on December 8, 1927 in Houston to Felix and Zapopan Martínez, the fifth of nine children, she grew up in the Magnolia Park area of Houston. It was in this neighborhood that Mary first met her husband Joe as a childhood acquaintance where they attended the same schools, graduating from Milby High School in 1947 and 1948 respectively. After being high school sweethearts, their extended courtship culminated in marriage on July 13, 1952 while Joe was still in the Army and thus launched a 68-year marriage full of love. It is fitting then that she was closely followed in death by her devoted spouse Joe. They raised eight children and instilled in them the values of faith, loyalty, devotion, education, and self-sufficiency. They were active parishioners at Resurrection and St. Andrew’s Catholic Churches for six decades, participating in various activities such as singing in the choir, a Eucharistic minister, and working at the church bazaars.

Mary lived a full life marked by her love of family and compassion for others. She loved to tell stories of her youth and the many tumultuous and wondrous changes in society she witnessed over the course of her life. She loved to sing and laugh, and had a fondness for sweets that she passed on to the rest of the Mendoza familia. Mary was a fierce protectress of her children, and she was renowned for not allowing you to leave their house without something to nurture you. She was quick to make friends in the neighborhood while volunteering in various civic activities, or in her places of employment, which included the Denver Harbor Library and Galena Park School District, among other places. Of equal importance was her unwavering faith. Mary was devoutly Catholic, leading a life of love by example. Her huge heart was exemplified by her role as a foster mother to three children from Catholic Charities during the period she was also raising her own eight children. She was predeceased by her siblings Pura Castillo, Socorro Castillo, Esther Flores, Aurora Cantu, and Joe Martinez and is survived by her sisters Geneva Hernandez, Sr. Mary Patricia Martinez, and Gloria Mendoza.

Mary will be lovingly remembered by her 8 children: Rosemary Sepulveda (Jaime Sepulveda), Mary Ann Rosas, Robert Mendoza (Diane Mendoza), Beatrice Licea, Margie Cortinas, Louis Mendoza (Angélica Afanador Pujol), Cynthia Castillo (Robert Castillo), Gilda Mendoza (Kuno Trostmann III); 18 Grandchildren, 16 Great-Grandchildren, as well as numerous relatives and friends.

Visitation will be at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale St., Houston. Texas 77023, on March 4, 2021 from 5:00-9:00 PM with a rosary at 7:00 PM. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on March 5, 2021 at St. Theresa Church, 6622 Haskell Street, Houston, Texas 77007 at 10:00 AM. A celebration of life will be held in the future when we can embrace one another and dance in her honor.

La muerte es una vida vivida and did they live it to the fullest! The expressions of love and support we have received from family and friends mirror their love for others. Thanks to Joe and Mary Mendoza, we too love selflessly and well. We will always carry their spirit within us.

In lieu of flowers, Mary asked that you consider donating to San Jose Clinic at https://www.sanjoseclinic.org.

Services will be live streamed at https://sttheresa.cc/funeralstream