Maria B. “BRUNI” Laurel, age 85, took God’s hand and went to be in her heavenly home, Wednesday, February 17, 2021. She was born in Hebbronville, Texas, July 19, 1935. Bruni was a loving and dependable wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend, who was loved tremendously and will be dearly missed. Bruni was a winner in life; she had a very special way of connecting with people. To say that she understood the human element, would understate her uncanny skill, revealed by the number of friends that she made throughout her life - from her youth, to her travels with her husband, Policarpio “Paul / Pole” Laurel, as he advanced in his Air Force career, the respected military personnel whom she served in her own Federal Service career, the staff and clerks who shouldered her leadership/management vision until her retirement from Federal Service in 1985, while leading the charge for minority and women’s rights in the early 1970’s and many friendships that she held onto for years and decades. Bruni loved traveling, with family and friends, from a seventeen day trip to Italy and The Vatican, to Las Vegas, cruise ships and Adult only resorts. She knew a fun time, and if you attended her birthday bashes, then you kow, that lady could draw a crowd! Bruni had a magnetic personality, yes, but her giving spirit and her strength of character, were the real draw. Brunilda loved and respected her Mexican-American heritage, culture and traditions, through the proud use of her beloved Spanish language, singing along with mariachis no matter the setting and her personal attention to detail, while making every huge pot of her Menudo, with Pole working beside her. We will not forget, the high stakes all girls gambling club, that was so tight knit, that if you made it through ‘initiation’, which has been said, is just this side of hazing, then you were ready to play in those Friday afternoon card matches, filled with trash talking, piles of pennies and hands played so fast that patience was not a strong suit. Maria’s family and friends were everything to her; she would do anything for them and them for her. Bruni and Paul were married December 1, 1956, just having celebrated sixty-four incredible years. They loved to get dressed up, find a ‘baile’ and dance the night away, always including friends and family, of course.
Mrs. Laurel was preceded in death by her mother, Idolina Saenz; her father, Adan Saenz; her mother-in-law, Petra V. Laurel; her-father in-law, Alfredo Laurel; her sister, Olivia Saenz; her sister-in-law, Elsa Laurel Hernandez; her niece, Olivia McGeHee; her niece, Sylvia Lopez; her nephew, James McGeHee.
She is survived by her life-long love, her husband, Policarpio Laurel (SMSgt, USAF, Retired); her daughter and son in-law, Diane and Bill Engelage; her son, Tony Laurel; her grandchildren Lindsay, Alissa and Michael; and her great grandchildren Westley, Brooke, Serenity, Jack and Luke. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Alonzo and China Saenz; her sister, Sylvia Saenz; her brother and partner, Ray Saenz and Rosalva Seanez; and her little sister, Rosa Isabel “Chavelita” Saenz. She is also survived by many of her Laurel sisters-in-law, Laurel brothers-in-law and many cousins, nieces and nephews from both sides of the family. She loved all of you!
Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio, TX 78218, will host Visitation at 6:00PM, Monday, March 15, 2021, with the Rosary Service to follow at 7:00PM. Father Tony Cummins will preside. The Graveside Service will be at 9:15AM, Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery(Shelter #2), 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio, TX 78234. Father Tony Cummins will preside. Attendance at the Fort Sam Houston Graveside Service, is limited to 25 people, per the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery Covid-19 Safety Regulations. Please join us for the Monday evening services. Face Covering and 6’ Social Distancing required at all services. Live-Stream will also be available.
