Elena Diaz

Elena LaMadrid Diaz 92, of Houston, Texas passed away peacefully on Saturday January 25, 2014 in Lakeway, Texas. She was born June 23, 1921 in Brownsville, Texas. She attended Brownsville High School where she was active in the Drum and Bugle Core, volleyball and softball. After high school, Elena worked at Kress Variety Store until 1942 when she passed the Civil Service exam and accepted a position with the State Department in Washington, D.C. joining her sister Esther working at State. While in Washington, she received intensive training in the State Department, Division of Special Political Affairs. As a researcher she helped to lay the groundwork for what would eventually become the United Nations. Later Elena worked for the U.S. Delegation to the General Assembly Conferences in San Francisco and in New York from 1945 until 1947. She remained at State until 1948. Elena married Enrique Diaz of Managua, Nicaragua in 1953. He passed away in 1962. She never remarried. Her longtime friend Stephen H. Buckley was her dear friend throughout the rest of her life. They were a constant in the lives of their families and the city of Houston. In 1949, Elena went to work for Ruska Instrument Corporation in Houston, Tx first as Secretary to the President later rising to the position of Assistant Secretary-Treasurer and finally Secretary-Treasurer of Ruska International Export, Inc. from where she retired in 1992. After retirement, she enjoyed traveling with friends, the Republican's Women's Club, music, dancing and getting caught up on her reading. An avid sports fan, she could name all the Houston Astros, their batting averages and their value to the team. She regularly volunteered at a local nursing home with patients who suffer Alzheimer's Disease. She was an active member of the Village Republican Women's Club in Houston, the Houston Women 's Institute (Lecture-Luncheon-Cultural Studies) and the Texas Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi International. Elena was a lifelong member of the South Main Baptist Church. She served as Secretary of her Sunday School Class, as well as a teacher in the English as Second Language programs sponsored by the church. Elena is survived by her sister, Esther LaMadrid Esparza, nieces, nephews, and many "great" nieces and nephews. Elena was predeceased by her parents, Jose Alcantar Lamadrid and Guadalupe Garza Trevino; her brothers, Humberto and Jose LaMadrid; and sister, Irene LaMadrid Sanchez and her dear friend Stephen H. Buckely. The family would like to express their enduring love and thanks to the employees at the Summit at Lakeway for the loving care for Elena during her stay. Visitation with the family will be held on Friday, January 31, 2014 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home in the Chapel with a Service at 7 pm. Internment will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feburary 1, 2014, at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery followed by a Memorial Service at 1pm at South Main Baptist Church 4100 Main St, Houston, TX 77002. (713) 529-4167. A reception will follow in the Church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in name of Elena L. Diaz to the Alzheimer's Association Houston & Southeast Texas 2242 W. Holcombe Blvd. Houston, Texas 77030