Maria was born on September 16, 1937, alongside her surviving twin sister Marta to Jesus Alfredo Rodriguez and Maria Belarmina Rios on a ranch in Sevilla, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. After meeting her best friend of 57 years Creda Nowlin while in Colombia during her work with the Peace Corp, Maria decided to immigrate to the United States in 1972 to Ventura, California.
In 1972, Maria met Antonio “Tony” Payan through her friend Creda and Antonio’s sister Victoria. Maria and Tony went on to have two boys, Jose and Luis. She was an Abuelita (Lita) to Nikolas and Lucas Payan, Melvin and Ceylin Menendez, Great-grandma Maria to Camila, Elina, Arleth, and Tia to many and a friend to all.
In 2003, Maria and Tony relocated to Houston to be closer to their sons and grandchildren. Maria worked in food service with the local high school in Cypress Fairbanks ISD. Maria retired from this position to care for her Tony until his death in 2018.
Maria taught all of us the importance of family and unity. Whether you enjoyed a delicious cup of Colombian coffee with her or a phone call during the day, she was a great conversationist. She took pride in her sewing and alterations for everyone. Throughout her life she traveled and visited family in Colombia and Spain. In her later years, she enjoyed baseball games on TV or watching her grandsons play at the local ball field. The words that she always ended with was “Te quiero mucho, y Dios Te Bendiga, El Nombre del Padre, el Hijo, y el Espritu Santo, Amen.”
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