Magdalena "Maggie" Lopez Castaneda

Marie “Maggie” Magdalena (born Magdalina) Lopez Castaneda; age 86, of Magnolia, Texas entered eternal rest to be with Our Lord and savior on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 7:56 a.m. while under the care of hospice in Magnolia, Texas. She was the third daughter of the late Susana Lopez Cano and Pablo Garcia Lopez, born on Sunday, November 7, 1937 in Lasara, Texas during the Great Depression period.

When Maggie was just two months shy of three years old her mother passed away unexpectedly at the tender age of twenty-seven leaving her widowed father totally devastated to raise Maggie and her six siblings.

Growing up Maggie remembered her father would instill the values of God, family, hard work, and the Catholic faith with the help of her loving aunt, Agripina Garcia Lopez. Maggie displayed these values in her everyday life reciting certain prayers aloud taught by her father before every meal, taking any medication and riding in anyone’s vehicle.

As Maggie was growing up in south Texas, she remembered riding in her father’s school bus taking all her siblings back and forth to school and picking up other children walking along the way who wanted a ride. She also remembered her father and his favorite brother owning a small local grocery store in Weslaco, Texas named Lopez Grocery.

During Maggie’s high school years, she remembered the family would migrate up north from time to time to work on various farms as she would attend high school in Altus, Oklahoma and Weslaco, Texas. But when it came to Maggie’s senior year, she wanted to graduate from Altus High School. So, with her father’s permission Maggie stayed behind and lived with her Uncle Francisco Lopez, enrolling herself in school so she could graduate in May 1957.

About five years later while at a local dance hall with her older sister Dora, Maggie met a dashing young man named Rodolfo “Roy” Hernandez Castaneda who became the love of her life. By February 10, 1963 Roy asked Maggie to go steady and seven months later they married in Weslaco, Texas on Sunday, November 17, 1963 and had two children from this union.

The young couple resided in Donna, Texas for over three decades raising their family while Roy worked as a land leveler and Maggie as a junior high school teacher. First as a teacher’s aide while attending Pan American University to get a Bachelor of Arts degree graduating in 1977 then went back to college again to become an English second language teacher. She lovingly dedicated her time helping children learn art and English for 30 years with the Donna Independent School District.

Sometime after retirement, the couple wanted to live closer to their children, so they moved to a cozy little neighborhood in Katy, Texas.

Outside of teaching Maggie had so many different hobbies which included sewing, crafting, ceramics, cooking, and volunteering at various school and church activities.

Watching how Maggie dedicated her time with all her loved ones was the definition of being a grandmother. To know Maggie was to know that God, family, friends, and special neighbors meant everything to her.

Maggie’s memory will be cherished by those she left behind, most notably by her beloved son, Rodolfo “Roy” Castaneda, Jr. of Magnolia, Texas; daughter, San Juanita “Janie” Castaneda of Katy, Texas; sister, Mary Lopez of San Antonio, Texas; brother, Domingo “Junior” Pablo Lopez (Minerva) of Saginaw, Michigan, sisters-in-law, Ester Lopez, Mary Ellen Quiroz Lopez; brother-in-law, Cruz Alanis; granddaughters Cynthia "Cindy" Nicole Castaneda, Krystal Anne Castaneda and cherished granddaughter Brittney Ann Vela; one great grandson, several Castaneda brothers-in-law, Castaneda sisters-in-law, daughter-in-law Janie Griffith, along with many loving nieces and nephews.

Maggie is preceded in death by her husband Rodolfo Hernandez Castaneda; parents, Susana Lopez Cano Lopez and Pablo Garcia Lopez; brothers, Jose “Gil” Feliberto Lopez, Jose Daniel Lopez (Maria †), Roberto “Robert” Cano Lopez, and sisters; Abelina Dora Lopez Alanis and Maria Minerva Lopez.

During this challenging time, we celebrate Maggie’s life and the lasting impact she had on everyone who knew her. May her soul rest in peace.

Funeral services will begin with visitation along with a Rosary service for family and friends on Monday, December 11, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Katy Funeral Home, 23350 Kingsland Blvd., Katy, TX. 77494

The Mass of Christian burial will take place where Roy & Maggie attended church at the St. Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church, 5356 11th Street, Katy, Texas 77493 on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 starting at 11:30 a.m.

The internment will immediately follow to the Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer, Houston, TX. 77077.