Esther R. Cruz

On Saturday, September 24, 2022, Esther Ramirez Cruz, loving wife, and mother of six children, passed away at age 92. Esther was born on February 10th, 1930, in Victoria, Texas, to Robert Charles Ramirez and Mercedes Garcia Ramirez. She lost her mother at the age of 10 and with her two brothers and sister moved in with her grandmother, Alvina Colores Garcia, on South Street in downtown San Antonio. It was there her grandmother nurtured her love of learning and reading with weekly walks to the library and dedicated time for reading. Esther moved back with her father after her grandmother died.

From an early age, Esther was a productive citizen in her community. She cared for hundreds of beautiful, white leghorn chickens on her family’s property on Evers Road. She was also a proud member of the Lassos at Jefferson High School. During her senior year, Esther’s father passed away and she was left to take care of her two younger brothers. She had to postpone her dreams of higher education and acquire a job at the U.S.O. to support her family. After graduating, her brothers joined the military and her sister married and moved away leaving Esther to care for the family home. Soon after, Esther met the love of her life, Albert M. Cruz, through a church youth club; the two were married in 1955.

After having six children, Esther decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a teacher. With the support of her husband, she attended Our Lady of the Lake University and earned her bachelor’s in elementary education in 1972 while simultaneously raising her children. Her eldest daughter, Patricia, recalls the impact her mother’s dedication had on herself and her siblings: Mom would always study in the bread truck my dad made into a camper. It was a quiet place where she could be alone to study without six kids bugging her. We knew when she was in there not to disturb her. She always told us an education was important and she would lead by example. It wasn’t easy for her to earn her two degrees while working plus six kids and husband to care for. She showed that the possible is indeed possible with perseverance and the loving support of her family. She began her dream of teaching at Northside Independent School District. In 1980, Esther also earned her master’s in education from the same university.

Esther’s love reflected in her profession as she taught first and second graders at Mary Hull Elementary. She guided and taught generations of young students. Her professional goals included bringing each child to his or her highest potential and instilling in each child a desire to learn, which she accomplished each day through her care and determination. After retiring from Northside, she taught English as a second language at Palo Alto College in the Continuing Education Department in San Antonio. She welcomed many new Americans to our country and helped them adjust to life here through language acquisition.

Esther Cruz was a devout Catholic who prayed for her loved ones and those in need. She not only believed in the power of prayer, but she also believed in acting as God’s hands through good works. Esther and her husband Albert devoted their time to their church and community. They helped organize meals for funerals at their home church, St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, in Boerne, TX. Esther constantly thought of others and would collect containers to pack care packages for the bereaved.

Esther was not only loving, but resourceful. She knew how to make objects last, how to reuse, and how to make do. For years the couple collected scrap metal, and Esther implored her family members to save metal as well. She prepared the metal and brought it to the scrap yard for money. With that money, she bought coffee to donate to Haven for Hope. This process illustrations how committed Esther was to acts of love and kindness.

Esther’s love shined most of all through her family; her and her loving husband, Albert M. Cruz, raised six children together. The family had many good memories from trips, church functions, and family reunions. Her and her husband loved to travel to explore religious missions, as well as different countries and cultures. Nothing made Esther prouder than to see her family’s success as they grew in their perspective fields and began families of their own. Esther adored her grandchildren, whom she called her reinas and reys. She would take the time to show her love through carefully written letters, and gifts of notebooks and pens to nurture their love of literacy.

Esther was preceded by her father, Robert Charles Ramirez, her mother, Mercedes Garcia Ramirez, her husband, Albert M. Cruz, her brothers, Robert Ramirez and Gilbert Ramirez, her sister, Cora Ramirez Gustin, and her son, Stephen. She is survived by her five loving children, Duane (wife Janie), Patricia (husband Nils Smith), Diane (husband John Hernandez), Rosanne (husband David Adams), and Paul (wife Lynne), twelve grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

Esther’s life will be honored at a rosary to be held on Thursday, October 6,2022 at Sunset Funeral Home North and a mass on Friday, October 7, 2022 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Boerne, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church – St. Vincent de Paul or Haven for Hope.

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