Maria Antonieta Muruato

Esparza is a Basque surname that means swordsman, a soldier who fights with a sword. Calderon is a Spanish and Sefardi occupational surname derived from the Latin “caldaria” (“cauldron”) and refers to the occupation of tinker, a term for an itinerant tinsmith who mends household utensils. A tinker is also “a mischievous person, especially a playful, impish (“inclined to do slightly naughty things for fun”) youngster.

Her sword was her faith in God and the household utensils she mended were love, kindness, compassion, and peace. Her shield was her tremendous sense of humor.

She was a daughter, sister, cousin, friend, student, wife, mother, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, mother-in-law, God Mother, then ex-wife, and teacher. But her last and greatest role on this stage we call life was that of a grandmother. Grand she was, and grand she will remain.

Tey, as many called her, was a strong-willed person, who had many adventures; from hiding her shoes from her parents, as a child, so that they could buy her more, to plotting an escape, while in a wheelchair, with her friends at 11 years of age, from their Los Angeles home, to greet The Beatles at the airport on July 14, 1964. They were caught before the could execute the plan.

Chapis, as others called her, graduated from Bel Air High School where she met her lifelong friend, Lupe Ramirez. She attended El Paso Community College where she befriended Maria Aguilera. She worked as a Family Literacy and Early Childhood Provider. She was responsible for the rich, supportive environment for children 2-5 years old. She also facilitated parent-child literacy activities while visiting home in Socorro. She was beloved by all the children, moms, and colleagues she worked with. She worked at AmeriCorps helping to empower thousands of low-income individuals and communities through multiple services. She taught catechism classes at San Juan Diego Catholic Church and prepared middle school children for their first communion; teaching them how to make the sign of the cross, speaking to them about the Mass and teaching them to love Jesus. She taught several women to drive, helping them become and independent like her. She taught her grandchildren how to pray The Lord’s prayer, the Rosary, and to have faith in God.

Aunt Toni, tia Tey, Mary, Maria, Bambi, was preceded in death by her parents, David, and Maria de Los Angeles Esparza; her stepmother, Guadalupe Esparza; her brother Ismael Esparza; her son Juanito Muruato and four other children who did not come to term, but whom she always remembered. She will be deeply missed by those she left behind. She is survived by her daughter, Valerie Muruato; son Adam Muruato; daughter-in-law Lora Ivanova; grandchildren, John Giovanni Muruato, Michael Angelo Muruato and her namesake, Marie Antoinette (Annie) Muruato; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, compadres, and friends.

The people present at her services and those who pay their respects from afar are a testament of the life she created, the 70 years and a half, to the day, she lived of this Earth.

Maria Muruato is an perfect example of a life well-lived.

A visitation for Maria will be held Monday, January 30, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Funeraria Del Angel Evergreen East, 12400 East Montana, El Paso, TX 79938. A graveside service will be held Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery East, 12400 Montana Ave, El Paso, Texas 79938.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.evergreenfheast.com for the Muruato family.