Amelia Mercado

HOUSTON, TX. - Amelia Mercado Salinas, 75, former longtime resident of Ciudad Victoria, passed away at 2:45 p.m. on Thursday (June 19, 2014) in the comfort of her home in Houston Texas, with her husband and sons and relatives by her side.

Born in Agualeguas, Nuevo León, Mexico on Oct. 14, 1938, she was the daughter of Calixta Salinas de Ayala and Alfredo Salinas Vela. She was one of eight children, Abundio, Margarita, Silviano (deceased), Celia, Alfredo, Calixto and Santa America.

Amelia was married in Agualeguas, Nuevo León Mexico in 1963 to Salomon Mercado Rodriguez from Villagrán, Tamaulipas. She lived in Ciudad Victoria for 33 years with her husband before they moved to USA. She was a full time mother and house wife. She did not have the opportunity to go to college, but she was a very smart and creative woman. Her creativity, imagination and skills with her hands allowed her to create so many beautiful things in life such as wedding dresses, quinceañeras dresses, house curtains, bed spreads, children's baptismal gowns and wood home items such as tables, chairs, cabinets, etc... She also was a great cook, some of her specialties were "albondigas", fideo, arroz con pollo, hamburguesas, pizas, and all kind of pies and cookies. She never worked for anyone, but her economical skills were crucial by keeping 5 owned houses rented to "señoritas estudiantes" for more than 20 years which helped to finance the college for both of her sons.

She made her home in Houston, TX, since 2006, and had lived with her husband and care givers Patricia Sandoval, Adriana Montes, and Mercedes Rodriguez. She is survived by her husband, Salomon Mercado Rodriguez, and sons Salomon Elmer Mercado Salinas and Gerardo Mercado Salinas of Houston and grandchildren, Emilia Rosselli Mercado Moreno of Cd. Victoria and Salomon Elmer Mercado Montalvo of Monterrey. She especially enjoyed spending time with her good friends, Socorro Wong, Genoveba Anaya, Elisa and Josefina, going to the dances when young and drinking tea. She was know by both sides of the family as the most beloved aunt, her nephews and nieces will always remember her for taking them to excursions, being graded on their diving skills in the Agualeguas river, and for always making sure they were well fed.

Amelia loved mother nature, she spent most of her time outdoors in the garden, one of her passions. She helped her husband at the ranch to plant avocados, peaches, bananas, oranges, guavas, and lemon trees. She strongly believed that if you try and fail, you should try harder the next time in order to succeed. She never left any task unfinished and she always made sure it was done correctly from the beginning. She continuously challenged herself by making new fashion dresses. She enjoyed making crafts and cooking new recipes and shared the results with those she loved.

In 1994 during her final years of cognition she painted a replica of the "Virgen de Guadalupe", it took her 9 months to finish and it was blessed by the city Bishop and donated to the Villagrán Catholic Church. Twenty years later and since it was not used by the church anymore, it was recuperated by her family and given back to her on Mother's day this year.

As you already know, Amelia unfortunately was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2000. She went through all seven stages. Her husband and son Gerardo made sure she lived a life of dignity in her final years and although she did not recognize them, they knew who she was as those who loved her. Amelia will certainly will be missed.

A memorial service will be held at Forest Park Lawndale in Houston Texas. Viewing will be Sunday June 22nd from 5 to 8pm including a rosary at 7pm. The funeral services will be held at the same place on Monday June 23rd at 10am.