Amalia Benito

Our dearest mother, Amalia, age 86, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Friday, September 16, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas. Born on a small family farm in Falls City, Texas, she learned the value of a strong work ethic. She moved to San Antonio as a child with her family and stayed for the rest of her life. The third of thirteen children, she left school around the 8th grade to work at Kress department store downtown to help support her family. Amalia Garcia married Juan Benito on November 7, 1955, thus starting our family.

She always strived to improve the family’s financial stability by furthering her education in taking correspondence courses, receiving her GED, and later attending classes at San Antonio College. She worked part-time as a bus aid, school bus driver, and with our father, managed their acquired properties. Over the years, they provided their children with a loving home and many opportunities and were very proud of our achievements. She loved caring for her children and grandchildren and often called to check-in on them, bearing birthday and Christmas gifts, always offering home cooked meals, or invitations to many local events. Mother enjoyed socializing with her family, whether it be her house, at annual family reunions, spontaneous visits while out for a drive, or laughing the hours away on the telephone. Both family and her Catholic faith were very important to her.

She and Dad would take quick getaways to casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada, Louisiana and Eagle Pass, Texas. Other less frequent trips included Connecticut, Virginia, Missouri, State of Washington, Florida, California, Hawaii, Turkey, Rome, and to various campgrounds. She loved watching performances and concerts at Sea World Texas, Six Flags Texas, Trinity University, and especially watching her granddaughter, Lauren, perform her talents as a singer and actress in local musical venues and at family get-togethers.

Amalia was preceded in death by her husband, Juan, ending their marriage of sixty-three years; parents, Onofre and Crispina Sustaita Garcia; siblings, Onofre Garcia Jr. (Margie), Frederico Garcia (Doris), Lucia Garcia, and Andrew Garcia (Peggy); grandchild, Corey Benito.

Amalia is survived by her siblings, Cruz Flores (Guadalupe, deceased), Margaret Martinez (Anthony), Crispina Noriega (Joel, deceased), Simona Lawter (Meryl), Macario Garcia (Olga, deceased), Daniel Garcia (Mirtha), Amador Garcia, Irene Garcia; children, Yolanda, John, Jeffrey, James (Deborah), Judith Benito-Campion (Brian); grandchildren, Brandon, Christopher, Brian, Cassandra Wooden (Robert), Kyle (Sarah), Samantha, Justin, Rachael Love (Timothy), Eric (Kristina), Sarah, Ryan, and Lauren; great grandchildren, Aubrie, Robert Jr., Kian, Elijah, Sai, Kylie, Daisy, Dakota, Tidus, Riona, Kainoa, Dean; and step-great-granddaughter, Divinity.

The family will receive family and friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2022, at Porter Loring Mortuary.

ROSARYMONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 20227:00 PMPORTER LORING MORTUARY1101 McCULLOUGH AVE 78212MASSTUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 202212:30 PMST THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC CHURCH4411 MOANA DR 78218

Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Shelter 1. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fresenius Medical Care Foundation North America.

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