Maria Atkinson Hinojosa

Maria Atkinson Hinojosa, 90, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, July 9, 2015, at her residence in Brownsville surrounded by her loving family.

Maria was born August of 1924 to Anna H. and José Angel Atkinson in El Ejido La Burrita, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. As one of the youngest of 12 children growing up during the Great Depression, from the onset Maria was known as a devoted care giver, provider and a courageous protector of those in need. Throughout her life, Maria provided wise council and guardianship to her brothers and sisters. Placing her parents first, Maria took on the responsibility of caring for her aged parents in their final years; worrying not about marriage and starting a family until that job was done!

Still by the strength of her own character and by an unwavering belief in God, Maria was not one to shy from any challenge. For one, she made it a point to make sure she obtained her U.S. Citizenship, one of her proudest accomplishments. Even more so, when she eventually met and fell in love with her future husband, Francisco "Pancho" who was a widower with five children, she did not shirk from the responsibility of helping raise a readymade family. And once again from that time forward, Maria was the devoted care giver for not only a family of five sons and daughters, but also the three sons she and Pancho were destined to have.

By the force of her Catholic devotion, she was a pillar of spiritual support and healing for her extended family and friends. She was also an icon of the neighborhood; even as she provided familiar comfort sitting in her chair in the front yard reading her Bible. Her kind deeds are without number, yet to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so many nieces and nephews, Maria will always be the bastion of spiritual and mental strength; giving a blessing to all she met before they left her side. Her kindness and her strength knew no bounds. Thus, Archangel Michael will have a mighty warrior of spiritual force to be at his side to prepare a place in Heaven for those of us left behind to cherish her memory.

Maria was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed not only by her family and friends but by all those fortunate to have known her.

Maria was preceded in death by her parents: Anna and José Angel Atkinson; her husband, Francisco "Pancho" Hinojosa; three sons: Aurelio, Jesus O. "Jesse", and Francisco Hinojosa Jr.; and ten of her siblings.

Maria is survived by her sons: José Angel (Josie) and David (Dolly) Hinojosa; her daughters: Lydia (Joe+) Rincon, Irma Perez, and Nelda (Francisco+) Navarro; her "adopted" daughter, Leticia (Salomon Gutierrez) Atkinson; a sister, Odilia (Francisco+) Hinojosa; 34 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2015 and continue through 8:00 p.m. in the East Chapel at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. The recitation of the holy rosary is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening at Darling-Mouser. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 13, 2015 at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 155 East Jefferson St., Brownsville, TX. Committal services will follow at Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens.

Maria's grandsons: David J. Hinojosa, David Rincon, and Joe Rincon along with Javier Hinojosa, Ernesto Atkinson, and Francisco Javier Atkinson are honored to ber serving as her pallbearers. Josette Angelique Cruz will serve as an honorary pallbearer.

Visitation

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Sunday, July 12, 2015
12 Noon to 8:00 p.m.

Service

Recitation of the Holy Rosary

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Sunday, July 12, 2015
7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass

Saint Thomas Catholic Church
155 East Jefferson Street
Brownsville, TX  78520
Monday, July 13, 2015
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens
4464 Old Port Isabel Rd.
Brownsville, TX  78526