Marisela "Mari" Farias Chapa

RANCHO VIEJO, TX. - Marisela “Mari” Farias Chapa, 72, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, November 18, 2021. Mari was born on June 27, 1949 in Harlingen, Texas to parents Guadalupe Rodriguez Farias and Ovidio del Toro Farias.

She is survived by her son, David L. Tumlinson, IV (Mariana); granddaughter, Ashley Janene Tumlinson; sisters, Bertha Farias Chapa and Noemi Farias Chapa (Ruben); her brother, Ovidio Farias (Elisa); brother-in-law, Ernesto Guadalupe Chapa (Kay); sister-in-law, Debbie Lizarraga (Oscar); nieces and nephews Annette Farabaugh (Mark), Mario Chapa (Earline), Celia Farias Champagne (Robert), Ovidio Farias Jr. (Terri), Lisa Farias Yglesias (David), Tita Longoria (Shelby), Becky Jordan (Shelby), Christi Chapa Williams (Keith), Phillip Chapa, M.D. (Jenna), Oscar Lizarraga (Chirstin), and Elise Garza (William); former mother-in-law, Juanita Serrata Tumlinson; several cousins, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, “comadres,” and her favorite dog, Tessie.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Guadalupe Rodriguez Farias and Ovidio del Toro Farias; husband, Jose Humberto Chapa; brother-in-law, Romeo Chapa; nephew, Ruben Chapa, Jr.; and former father-in-law, David L. Tumlinson, Sr.

Mari earned her Bachelor of Education degree from Texas A&I University in Kingsville and served others as a middle school and high school English, Spanish, and French teacher. Shortly thereafter, she began her career developing and providing financial aid opportunities to vocational and university students at South Texas Vo-Tech, The University of Texas at San Antonio, and lastly at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. She was passionate about giving young students the necessary resources to successfully earn a post-secondary credential knowing it would lead to a better life for them. She was considered an expert in her field of financial aid and served on a site team committee with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to recommend or deny accreditation of higher education institutions. She was also a part of the advisory committee for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and served on numerous other committees for the Texas Association of Financial Aid Administrators (TASFAA) and National Association of Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).

She was called “mom” not only by her son, David, but also by all of his friends as well and always provided home cooked meals to his friends while they were in college in San Antonio. She was a strong influence in the lives of so many.

Her favorite musicians were her “Three Bs”: The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, and Bon Jovi. She reminisced about excitedly crying as she watched the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan television show, standing in awe and singing loudly as she watched “The Boss” live at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, and standing on her chair watching Bon Jovi at the Frank Irwin Center. She was a “cool” mom. She also loved her fishing trips to Mexico and her occasional trips to Las Vegas, even the not so fruitful ones.

The last three years of her life were spent living with her son and daughter-in-law during which they enjoyed each other’s company and grew closer. Even more special to Mari was the time she spent with her granddaughter, Ashley, while sheltering in place in 2020 and having their “town hall” meetings when she was home on weekends and holidays.

David and Mariana are grateful to Neida Ruth Soto-Grantland, Cammy Penrod, Jennifer Hotsetter, and her other “church ladies,” as she called them, for providing comfort and helping her grow in her relationship with Christ her Savior. She left this world confident, fearless, faithful, and loved by so many.

David, Mariana, Ashley and their family wish to thank the doctors, nurses, and colleagues at Valley Regional Medical Center and Amedisys Hospice Care for the care and compassion they provided to Mari during her final days.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 1914 Barnard Road, Brownsville.

In lieu of flowers, David and Mariana request those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to www.kidneyfund.org.

Memories of Mari may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.