Mary Ann Araiza

Maryann Araiza.

Family and friends often called our mom St. Maryann. Partly because of her deep faith and compassion and also because of the way she pushed through life’s toughest moments with such grace.

One of seven kids born into a sharecropping family who worked the fields near Gonzales, Texas, Maryann graduated high school in the country at 15. She enrolled in business school when she was 16 and had her first big job in Houston by the time she was 18, making her way from the country to the big city. It was there she met and married her husband of more than 50 years, Pete Araiza. She went on to raise nine kids of her own.

Maryann greeted life with grace no matter what the day delivered. Marriage wasn’t easy, nor was raising nine rambunctious kids. Our mother passed along many gifts through the years, including the gifts of resilience, compassion, forgiveness and how to get up each day and just embrace the day. “Go warm somebody's heart,” she’d say. She gave us the gift of, “Yes, you can,” and enough of a spiritual and moral upbringing to keep us all from getting into too much trouble.

Maryann believed if you wanted a better life, education was the way. She gave us all the gift of a Catholic education and she herself went back to college in her 50s and pursued a degree in Art History until she was sidelined by her first battle with cancer.

Before she married, Maryann considered becoming an airline attendant or a nun. Life later led her into a 30-year career working with the Dominican Sisters at the Villa in Houston. She cherished that part of her life probably because she fit right in. Like the Sisters, Maryann was spiritually devoted, selfless and completely grounded in her faith. The work and the relationships she built with the Dominican Sisters strengthened both her independence and sense of self.

Our mother was a quiet, beautiful force. Always kind. Always forgiving. Always encouraging. Always saw the good in people. She loved to laugh, she absolutely loved her family and she loved her faith.

Maryann Araiza died peacefully on September 14, 2021. In her last days she was surrounded by family. She is preceded in death by her husband, Pete Araiza, Jr. and her parents, Simon Peter Brzozowski and Marianna Brzozowski. She is survived by her 9 children, Sheila Araiza, Shirley Araiza, Karen Araiza, Kevin Araiza, Patrick Araiza and wife Shari, Kenneth Araiza and wife Marla, Dr. Patricia Hess and fiancé Marc Andreozzi, Steven Araiza and Joseph Araiza and wife Dr. Virginia Araiza. Grandchildren: Courtney Araiza, Mary Shimell, Mackenzie Araiza, Caroline Araiza, Alec Shimell, Emily Araiza, Jake Araiza, Lucas Araiza, Jill Araiza, Anthony Andreozzi, Tristan Loeb, Blake Loeb, Olivia Araiza and Elena Araiza.Siblings: Rev. Simon P. Brzozowski, MSF, Doris Jean Hrncirik, Jane Helena Allen and husband Bobby, June Christina Cowey and husband Lee, James Victor Brzozowski and Barbara Elaine Breitschopf.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that if you feel moved to give, donations can be sent to The Dominican Sisters, 6501 Almeda, Houston, TX 77021.

A visitation for Mary Ann will be held Monday, September 20, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77008. A rosary service will occur Monday, September 20, 2021 from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM, 1317 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77008. A funeral mass will occur Tuesday, September 21, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4419 N. Main St., Houston, TX 77009. A committal service will occur Tuesday, September 21, 2021 from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM at St. James Catholic Cemetery, 1800 St. Andrew St., Gonzales, TX 78629.

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