Maria Teresa Mata

Maria Teresa was born on June 16, 1941 to Jose Maria Martinez and Andrea Garcia in La Huasteca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. She studied towards an administrative career at Cantu Treviño college. She proceeded to accept and flourish in an internship at a retail center called La Aurora, where she met her dear mentor, Poncho.

Maria Teresa met her husband, Refugio Champion, in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico in 1970 and married June 19th of the following year. Together they had three sons in which they proudly and tirelessly worked to instill values of faith, family and work.

Maria Teresa was a devout Catholic, a founder as well as a recognized and honored member of the Guadalupana Association of St. Luke’s the Evangelist Catholic Church. Maria Teresa and her husband were an integral part of bringing the Spanish-speaking Masses and services to the community at St. Luke’s. She was also an inspirational figure within the Sagemont/Southbelt community. Maria Teresa was always a ray of sunshine throughout the darkest of days and will always be remembered as a compassionate soul and a safe harbor to those in need. Her love and spiritual guidance were known far and wide, touching the hearts of everyone she met.

She is survived by their sons, Javier (daughter-in-law, Irma), Omar, and Ivan; grandchildren, Bianca Marie, Anthony Ray, Annelli Lana, Julian Champion-Ray, Cynthia Consuelo, Sydney Elle, Laura Denise, Madison Grace, Ty William, Ava Sophia, and Layla Janet; Great-grandchildren, Vincent Anthony, Omar Francisco, Kal-El Luther, and Luna Mae; Sisters, Irma Martinez Garcia and Evita Vasquez, along with many loving nieces and nephews.

Maria Teresa was predeceased by her husband, Refugio Champion Mata, her mother, Andrea Garcia, father, Jose Maria Martinez, sisters, Aurora Diaz, Eloina Villarreal, and brothers, Ernesto Martinez, Jose Maria Martinez, and Felipe Martinez.

A visitation at Forest Park East Funeral Home will be on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and a vigil service will start at 6:00 pm with a rosary to follow at 7:00 pm. A funeral mass at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church will be on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 11:00 am and a committal service to follow at Forest Park East Cemetery.

Mamá, Abuelita, desde que se fue, nos a hecho mucha falta. El mundo nunca será el mismo sin usted. En su memoria seguimos luchando, un pie enfrente del otro. Como decía siempre, “¡Arriba corazones!”