Maria De Jesus Ortiz Villanueva

Maria De Jesus Ortiz Villanueva, 88, of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away on March 3, 2019 with her loving family by her side. She was born on December 25, 1930 in Saltillo, Coahuila, MX to Ventura and Guadalupe Ortiz.

She worked at Holy Family Church as a cook for many years. She was well known for her delicious cooking, especially her hot sauce. She also had a passion for knitting, crocheting and loved working outside with her plants. She was a strong, kind, and loving wife, mother, aunt, sister and friend, and will be truly missed by all who knew her and whose lives she touched.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Domitila Ortiz, Leopoldo Ortiz, Ventura Ortiz, Antonio Ortiz, Amado Ortiz, Socorro Ortiz Sifuentes, and Viola Ortiz Gomez.

She is survived by her loving husband, Edmundo Villanueva, with whom she shared 70 years of marriage. She is also survived by her two daughters, Lina Guadalupe Villanueva (Corpus Christi, TX) and Maria Magdalena Graham (Jess) (San Antonio, TX); 6 grandchildren, Francisco Javier Garza (Chriselle), Lina Monique Garza, Liza Marie Garza (Ted), Jesus Mario Sampayo (Virginia), Gloria Isela Sampayo, Sergio Edmundo Sampayo (Liana); 13 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-granddaughters. All of them being her pride and joy. Also surviving her are numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at Memory Gardens Funeral Home Chapel, 8200 Old Brownsville Road from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a Holy Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m.

A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at Memory Gardens Funeral Home Chapel at 10:00 a.m. with interment to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.