Mary Elva Cantu entered into her eternal rest with Our Lord on October 25, 2023 at the tender age of 77. Elva was born on November 16, 1945 to Aurora Flores and Arturo Campos. She was the youngest girl of four children.
Elva graduated from Brackenridge High School in 1964. She had a passion for education and following high school she attended Our Lady of the Lake to achieve a Bachelor’s degree in Education. During her time as a teacher in San Antonio, she met the love of her life, Oscar Cantu. The two started a beautiful relationship and got married in 1972, in San Antonio. The couple decided to move to Austin, Texas for better opportunities and Elva was able to enroll in The University of Texas at Austin to start on a Master’s Degree. While attending school, the couple welcomed their first child. She graduated from UT Austin with a Master’s degree and a toddler. The couple later welcomed two other children and raised all three kids with lots of love. A few years later, Oscar passed away unexpectedly and Elva was left to pick up the pieces for her family. It didn’t stop her and she worked harder to make sure the kids were taken care of and loved throughout the rough transition.
Elva worked for several years as a teacher in the Austin Independent School District. She loved to open the minds of kids and showed them the joys of learning. She received many accolades during her teaching career. Elva was featured in a news article for her “old school” teaching methods that resulted in 100% of her students passing the state math test. After 42 years of enriching the lives of over 1,000 children, Elva decided to retire from teaching to care for her grandchildren. With the birth of her grandchildren, Elva’s heart grew even more and she loved caring and spending time with them. They easily became her little secret keepers. During her retirement she enjoyed playing Sudoku, watching cooking shows on TV and loved to watch Hallmark movies.
Elva was a woman of faith, she believed in God’s intentions even if she didn’t always understand them. She would recite the Rosary often in search of peace during difficult times. Elva loved her family most of all. She always made sure everyone was taken care of and that they knew how much love she had for them.
Elva will be reunited in heaven with her parents, Arturo and Aurora Campos; husband, Oscar Cantu; sisters, Aurora “Aurorita” Campos and Velia Pimentel; and brother, Arturo Campos Jr.
Her memory will forever live on in her children, Donaciano Cantu (Gabriela), Maria Cristina Martinez (Camilo), and David Cantu (Evelyn); grandchildren, Maricella, Lucia, Ava, and one on the way, Avi. She will also be remembered by Delia Campos and family, Joseph “Bido” Pimentel and family, Martha Saucedo and family, Alva Ibarra and family, Melvin Dominguez and family, Sylvia Alonzo and family, and numerous extended family and friends.
