Maria Escolastica Rico

She was born in Tierra Nueva, San Luis, Potosi, Mexico on February 10, 1955 to Pablo and Eustolia Hernandez Zuniga.

Maria was a strong Catholic woman, dedicating every day of her life to her family and to the Catholic Church. She had a large family and an even larger church family, always ready to cook for both and everyone loved her corn tortillas. Her proudest moments in life were the birth of her 8 children and then the birth of her grandchildren. In her spare time she enjoyed being closer to God, going to Mass and Adoration, listening to Marian Spanish hymns, and being outdoors working on her plants and spending time with her chickens and cats. If she were to speak with us today she would tell us that life is short and that we need to enjoy every moment, that she loved life and lived it well, and that she would hope that her family learned to love life as much as she did. Maria was a member of Saint Joseph’s Church in Loraine and a Guadalupana.

Maria is survived by her husband of 51 years Jose Remedios Rico, by her children Sister Olivia Rico of Lubbock, Jesse Rico of Abilene, Tereza Miller and husband Robin of San Angelo, Luis Rico and wife Amy of Loraine, Mike Rico of San Angelo, Christina Espinoza of Loraine, Lucy Rico of Loraine, and Celia Miguel and husband Virgilio, and by grandchildren; Colton Chavez, J.J. Rico, Jonathan Rico, Chris Rico, A.J. Rico, Maddie Rico, Robin Miller III, Santiago Miller, Miki Rico, Conchita Rico, Elizabeth Rico, Zeke Espinoza, Gracie Espinoza, Mili Espinoza, Ramon Espinoza, Carmen Austin, Lilly Austin, and Emanuel Miguel, with 2 more on the way. She is also survived by her brothers Cipriano Zuniga of Texarkana, Cecilio Zuniga of Springfield Missouri, and Clemente Zuniga of Mexico, as well as by her beloved chickens and cats.

She was preceded in death by her parents Pablo and Eustolia Zuniga, by grandchildren Raphael Miller and Sarah Miller, and by her sisters Francisca Zuniga de Noyola and Anastacia Zuniga de Vasquez.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Maria will be held at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Loraine on Friday, May 3rd at 10am with Father Jose de Dios, Father Jeremy Trull, and Father Michael Udegbunam officiating. Burial will follow in the Loraine Cemetery with Robert Munoz, Richard Munoz, Jerry Munoz, David Alvarez, Manuel Munoz Jr., and Jacob Munoz serving as pallbearers.

The family will be present for a visitation on Thursday,, May 2nd from 5-7 pm in the Kiker Seale Funeral Home Chapel with a rosary to follow at 7pm.

Those wishing are encouraged to share a memory by visiting www.kikerseale.com