Alicia Navarro Vela

Alicia Navarro Vela was born February the 2nd 1932, in Del Rio TX. Her father, Isabel Navarro, was an old railroad conductor and her mom was a wonderful homemaker. With her younger sister, Molly, both apparently had a happy upbringing. Alicia was the product of a Catholic education, graduating from Sacred Heart Catholic school there in Del Rio. It wasn't soon after she met the love of her life, Armando, and were soon wed, February the 13th 1955. Her and her husband, being a young airman, was transferred to Anchorage AK. Nine months later Alicia gave birth to a baby boy Armando Jay, the honeymoon baby. A year later their second son was born, Anthony David. With young family in hand they had been stationed in Honolulu Hawaii, Hickam Air Force Base, then right did back to Texas, San Antonio, Lackland AFB and then had a long stent in Florida, Key West and then Homestead. It was there in Key West, Fla. that Alicia gave birth to a daughter, Adrianna. So 10 years younger than her older brother Armando Jay, Adrianna was the daughter that they longed for, particularly after 10 years of two very energetic boys, with cub scouts, Boy Scouts, Little League baseball, football, swimming leagues and all the water activities one could imagine living in Key West Florida.

After 25 years of being a military wife, the family moved to Laredo Texas to buy into a family business, “The Glass Kitchen”. There she served as the company’s secretary / treasurer. Five years later Alicia supported her husband in expanding the family business to Eagle Pass and Del Rio TX, back to her old hometown. With two grown sons to take hold of the business expansion, Alicia decided to go to work helping as a receptionist / bookkeeper for two well-known doctors. She also became very involved with the local church there with to the Catholic Daughters.

In her younger years Alicia was an avid bowler playing in both a women's league and couples league with her husband Armando. Alicia also loved playing games with her grandchildren, whether it was all the popular board games, to pitching hard balls and shooting baskets with her younger grandsons.

Upon retiring in 2004, having sold the businesses, Alicia and her husband moved to San Antonio to be with her three grown children and grandchildren. Being involved with the church here she attended her first ACTS retreat in 2004, with her daughter-in-law, her grand-daughter and her daughter. It was truly and amazing experience. It was soon after that, Alicia was known by her family and extended church family as just grandma. One could only imagine the funny situations that occurred when grown men, not much younger than Alicia, would call her grandma. The looks from strangers was quite hilarious.

One thing that always stood out in her family's minds was Alice's devotion to her Catholic faith. Whether it was attending mass regularly, to always keeping her prayer books beside her, to her work and involvement with the Catholic daughters, her faith was the most important part of her life. Her oldest son Jay attest to that as he remembers the early days with Alice was adamant about him serving as an altar boy. There was no way her son was getting around that duty, according to Alicia.

Alicia is preceded in death by her parents; Isabel Navarro and Juanita Gonzalez Navarro, husband: Armando Vela Sr; and grandsons: Armando (Little Bud) Vela III, and Matthew Jay Vela.

She is survived by her children: Armando Jay Vela Jr., Anthony David Vela, Adrianna Vela Broniszewski (Didi); daughters in law: Rosina Salinas Vela, Eloisa Martinez Vela; son in law: Robert Broniszewski; 6 grandchildren: Jennifer, Sheri, Jaclyn, Jacob, Joshua, Jordan; 4 great-grandchildren: Damien, JJ, Amanda, Andrew; and sister: Molly Arredondo.