Mary "Lala" Cavazos Diaz

Mary C. Diaz born July 18, 1922, passed away on November 20, 2010, in Brownsville, TX. She was preceded in death by her husband, Antonio Manuel Diaz, Sr. her father, Ezequiel Enking Cavazos, Jr., and mother Rosaura Cortina Cavazos, as well as two sisters Nena Cavazos Bujanos and Mary Helen Cavazos Rivas. She is survived by her three children: Dr. Antonio M. Diaz, Jr., Dr. Diana N. Diaz, and Dr. Thomas E. Jody Diaz as well as two brothers Prajedis G Socorro Cavazos and Johnny N. Nena Cavazos.

She also had 3 wonderful grandchildren who were the love of her life. Lovingly known as Oma to Anthony Diaz, III, and Mima to Alexandra Lauren Andrew James Diaz she cherished every moment spent with them and would smile anytime you mentioned their names. She loved them dearly. There are also numerous nephews and nieces that she embraced.

Marys family also wishes to acknowledge with deep gratitude and affection, Lencha Eguia, Alejandro Garcia, and Emma Ramirez, who faithfully and lovingly cared for her in the last years of her life.

For Mary known as Lala by her family, teaching was the love of her life. Her first days of teaching were at Villa Nueva Elementary. She also taught at La Joya High School, however, she taught at Russell Elementary School for the majority of her career. Teaching children was without question what God wanted her to do with her life. She always managed to find the best in every child she taught.

She was a member of one of Brownsvilles first families that settled on this border, a greatgreatgreatgranddaughter of Jose Salvador De la Garza, the original grantee of the Espiritu Santo Grant 1781 on which the City of Brownsville Ranch and Fort Brown areas are located greatgreatgranddaughter of Doa Estefana Goseasochea de Cavazos y de Cortina, matriarch of the Espiritu Santo Grant and the mother of Don Sabas Cavazos and the legendary General Juan N. Cortina.

Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 at St. Josephs Catholic Church, 555 W. St. Francis St. in Brownsville, with the recitation of the holy rosary beginning at 7 p.m. The Memorial Mass of Christian Resurrection will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010 at St. Josephs Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, Marys family is requesting that memorial gifts in her name be made to the Mary C. Diaz Scholarship Endowment Fund, co UTBTSC Office of Development, 80 Fort Brown, Brownsville, Texas 78520. In this way it is their hope to help someone pursue their degree in education and touch the lives of children as Mary did.

Visitation

St. Joseph Catholic Church
555 W. St. Francis
Brownsville, TX  78520
Friday, December 3, 2010
5 to 7p.m.

Service

Rosary

St. Joseph Catholic Church
555 W. St Francis
Brownsville, TX  78520
Friday, December 3, 2010
7p.m.

Mass of Christian Resurrection

St. Joseph Catholic Church
555 W. St Francis
Brownsville, TX  78520
Saturday, December 4, 2010
1p.m.

Memorial Contributions

c/o UTB/TSC Office of Development
Brownsville, TX  78520