I always had a great time with my Abuelita. I remember when I was young, my brother was having a procedure in the hospital. My parents went back with him as he saw the doctor, and I was in the waiting room with my Abuelita and Abuelito. It was early in the morning and about time to have breakfast. My mom had packed me a healthy breakfast with fruit and granola and lots of good stuff that you should eat, but none of the things I wanted to eat when I was that age. There was a vending machine in the waiting room that caught my eye. I asked my Abuelita if we could get some snacks from the machine and told her that it all looked sooo good. She said “of course mijo! We’ll get you whatever you want.” They bought me Doritos and Oreos and a bunch of snacks and it was the best thing ever. My mom came into the waiting room later and saw me just eating all these snacks and smiling as I was having a great time. She asked if my Abuelita and Abuelito had bought these for me and my Abuelita said “Yes, because that’s what grandparents do.” My mom just laughed and knew she was right and it was a funny memory that we look back and laugh about. My Abuelita loved to spoil her grandkids and great grandkids and she was just a very generous, loving and kind person. She was one of the best people you could ever meet and I’m going to miss her.

I fondly remember the days I spent at grandma's house.
Some of my most vivid memories were spent sitting at the kitchen counter as I watched grandma make us lunch. She showed me how to make the best tuna fish sandwiches - teaching me how to use a can opener and how to hard-boil eggs. 

I remember when she would pour me a little bowl of pickles or olives as a snack. The tart juice of each quickly became my favorite part, and she always made sure to include some in my bowl. We would laugh together as I tilted my head back for every drop. Her love always shined through even the smallest actions. I remember the duck-shaped cookie jar and the pudding cups in the pantry, how she would never hesitate to offer what she had. 

Grandma would always encourage my creativity. During Christmastime, I cut and colored paper ornaments that she would hang proudly on the christmas tree and save for the following years. I remember seeing a copy of my "published" elementary school book project I had written on top of her coffee table. She was always proud to show off what I had created. 

I would watch tv and play in the backroom with all of the toys she had accumulated from her children and grandchildren. My cousins, brother and I would invent our own games and play hide and seek in the hallway. There was always lots of laughter and joy when we were at grandma's house. 

I remember the family holidays of opening Christmas presents, the magic of the tree and tinsel and lights. I loved searching for eggs during Easter and meeting for delicious dinners at Thanksgiving. I am blessed to have had such a wonderful grandmother, and I'll always be proud to share her name. 

I love you, Grandma Sofia! 
- (little) Sophia :)♡

My Mother was an amazing caretaker for not only her husband & children but for her disabled sister, Lupita. Since I was the youngest and not in school yet, I got a bird’s eye view of my mother advocating and caring for her sister at the nursing home. She modeled how to stand up for others. She was at my dad’s side until the very end. Even at the nursing home, she would get on the staff to make sure he had his sweater as he always got cold. Seeing her model this has really helped me care for my children and for both of my parents. It has even helped me in my job as I advocate for my students.

She also was a great teacher. Since she was a catcher for her softball team, she really was able to teach me the ins and outs of being a pitcher. It was a great bonding moment to play catch with my mom.  

She also taught me how to be a lady and how to dress. But mostly she taught me how to pray and cover my family in prayer. She was steadfast because the Lord was truly her strength. 

I was praising God and thanking him for sparing her life 40 plus years ago when she beat breast cancer. He had more work for her to do and she was faithful to complete the plan God had for her. 

I have no doubt that my mom heard “well done good and faithful servant” when she arrived in heaven. 

You will always live in my heart. Never forgotten and always remembered. Until we meet again.

I love you, Mama! 

Virgie

When Virginia and I were first dating, I remember going to the house to see her. I would greet everyone quickly and then make a beeline for the kitchen. I would reach up on top of the refrigerator where the tortilla warmer was, and there were always fresh, warm, homemade tortillas in it that Sofie made. I think sometimes she only made them because she knew I was coming over… although after hearing everyone talk about her tortillas, she was probably already planning on making them. But I like to think she made them especially for me. 

I also loved celebrating Christmas at the house. She and Charlie would sit back and watch all the kids and grandkids open their gifts, and it gave them so much joy. She loved her family so much, and I can honestly say I don’t know anyone who was so universally loved by everyone who knew her. 

There are a couple verses that she really embodied, Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” 

Sofie lived to serve the Lord and give her life for others, and she will always be missed.

This is not saying good bye but see you later MOM.
I am grateful you are my MOM
Thank you for caring for me when I was born.
Thank you for holding my hand and teaching me to walk.
Thank you for teaching me what to say when I talked.
Thank you for being my chauffer and driving me around to dentist and doctors, to games to friends’ houses.
And of course, to school for many years.
I am thankful that we shared the holidays, for your support and your cheers
Thank you for the celebrations you made when it was our birthdays, graduations and weddings.
Thank you for rejoicing with us when we had our babies
But most of all thank you for your love and prayers.
From your little girls some with and some without curls
We were blessed to call you Mother, Grandma, Tia, Cousin, Friend.
I won’t say goodbye, but see you later.

From your daughter Angela (aka Lulee)

Mommy your walking in streets of Gold
A true princess warrior, faithful and true!
You finished your work here on earth. I hear God say… Good faithful servant! 
I envision you….dancing with the angels and singing praises to Jesus! Lifting your arms with Joy and exuberant enthusiasm! 
I know you're so happy, so free and renewed. I can only imagine all you see.
Your heart is light! Not a care of this world…As free and as light as a feather! 
I can only wonder and all the brilliance and majesty of King Jesus! You get to be in the heavens with Him and with the family..  
Now ,you are whole and you are completely healed. Fulfilled the promises of Gods love. I cry cause I miss you so very much!  But I will see you later.I love you and hold you iny heart! Until then, Suzanne

Eulogy - Part 4

I would like to close with 2 verses from the Bible: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life,” and 2 Timothy 4:7-8 which says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me and to all who long for his appearing.” 

Mom, your fight is over. You have received your crown, and you are home.

Eulogy - Part 3

Mom also took time to take care of my sister's children. She would pick them up at the daycare after she got off of work. As time went on, she always had a grandchild to pick up from school. In the summers, she would babysit and take the kids to the pool everyday. Mom would play with the kids and laugh with them. She took time to listen and talk with them.  From going to Taco Bell with Vanessa almost everyday to teaching little Sophia how to make delicious tuna fish sandwiches. Mom was so kind-hearted and it was her joy to get to take care of her kids and grandkids. Mom loved sports and could get really enthusiastic as she cheered on her grandkids to homeruns and touchdowns. She would play catch at the house with the kids, teaching them about baseball, softball, and even teaching Virgie how to pitch. Also let me add here that she was a huge Cowboy fan. We all knew not to call mom during the Cowboy games. 

Mom was always a strong woman. She knew how to persevere when going through hardship. She was a fighter, even a two time cancer survivor. I know that she truly found her joy and strength in Jesus, because she would endure tough times, but she still had faith, she still had peace. She enjoyed sharing this faith with her children, including her son Dino, whose ashes will be buried with her today.  She would often say “Nothing is impossible with God.” She modeled the woman in scripture Proverbs 31: 25-31.

We have so many stories and memories that we could share, but at this time we will remember her as a remarkable woman who served the Lord and was faithful in her walk with him in her character. We’re going to remember all the wisdom she would give to us and the happy memories she left with friends, relatives, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Eulogy - Part 2

She was not only a mother to her own children, but she was like a second mother to many of our cousins. Our mother always took care of her son's only daughter, Crystel. Crystel says that grandma was more like a mother than a Grandmother. We have cousins that say the same thing about her. Many times, she and Tia Kika (her sister) took some of our cousins with us to the state fair. She was very organized and made sure everyone had a new outfit for this event. My sisters remember one time when they went to the state fair circus, a clown came by and said “Lady, you have too many kids!” The people there laughed and so did mom! There were nine of us that day. We enjoyed the circus. Mom was glad to take us since she loved the State Fair. In fact, she loved the State Fair so much that she chose to go there for her first date with her husband, Charlie. 

Mom was a teacher, showing our oldest cousin how to dress beautifully and with style, much like herself. She would say, “Maybe I overdid it a little,” but she loved all of my cousins so much. 

Mom also loved sweets! During Halloween time, my sisters would go trick or treating and get pillowcases full of candy. Mom's favorite was Snickers. When the girls would get home from school, they would come back to clean bedrooms and all of their Snickers candy bars missing… And guess who ate them. 

Mom was a wonderful grandmother. My children remember when they were small, we would go visit her in Dallas. She would make them hamburgers, and put on the movie with Shirley Temple called “The Bluebird”. My daughter remembers her as a classy Grandma with fancy clothes, jewelry and furs. She was always put together in her fashion sense and would say, "Whenever you go out, put color on your lips." I can always hear her saying this everytime I leave the house now.

Eulogy - Part 1

In the Bible there is a book of Ecclesiastes that says: To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to mourn and a time to laugh and other seasons that we go through. 

This is the time God chose for my mother to leave this world. We are blessed that she lived a long life so that we could have so many good memories with her. 

She touched many lives with her kindness, her laughter, and how well she cared for others. She had many friends and never met a stranger. Her memory always amazed us. She had a very good memory and was a great storyteller. Whenever we visited the cemetery, she always knew a lot of the people buried there and would tell us their stories. 

Mother loved to read her bible daily. She found her strength by spending time everyday with the Lord in prayer and in the word. She also enjoyed reading the newspaper, biographies, and magazine articles. 

Mom was a real servant and always offered her help when needed. While raising her family, Mom was a caretaker for her sister, Lupita. She would go and tend to her sister in the nursing home. She also always kept up with her children. Traveling to Houston and Florida to be there for her daughters, me and Virgie. One time, our brother Dino had knee surgery and she came to be with him in Houston to help him. When we had children of our own, she would always be there to help us and love on the new grandbaby. She always taught us to help others and look out for our families.

This was a visit with Mom when she lived at Golden acres community. She made many friends with the residents and staff. This was probably July 2024. 
We were saying Cheese in the video and Mr G didn’t realize he had it on video mode.

I will miss her alot and I thank God for her, she was a wonderful Mom. She was loving, fun, caring, patient and showed me lots of love.  She encouraged me, was a good listener, and was always there for me. She loved to pray with me and I miss those times. She had alot of faith in God. Thank God for the times she helped me raise Vanessa my daughter. She encouraged me to believe all things are possible with God and that God was always with me; that he will never leave me or forsake me. I thank God for all the good times I had with her. I cherish every moment.
                                                                                Love her daughter, Carolyn

From the time that Carolyn and I became friends over 20 years ago Mrs. Benavides has always prayed for me and my family. She definitely never met a stranger and always made me feel welcomed.  Sending prayers of strength, peace and comfort to the family and friends of Mrs. Benavides.

There's an emptiness felt without you Grandma. I will always remember the many memories we had growing up. Rides to and from school, frozen chicken nuggets from Merriman Park, quickly listing Pokemon names...movies...pool stuff ; Ugh, there's so so much! I couldn't of had a more wonderful Grandma. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING♡ You were always there for me, being ever so supportive. I could almost smell the delicious tortillas you used to make and remembering when I would sometimes help, how hard it was from eating the dough.
I love you lots Grandma. It's going to be a bit different now, but at least I know you're at peace & dancing up a storm in Heaven.  I'm sure your Tortillas are a big hit up there as well.

Shane, mom and Warren. They are her son in laws.

Great grandpa & great grandma ❤️❤️

Great Granddaughter alexis, grandson Ruben , daughter Rosa & great great grandson Alex

Lunch with Nieces and daughters in Spring 24. From left to right Sandy, Juana, Kathy, Rosa, Carolyn, Angie and Mom.

Mom & Tio Felipe at Sally’s first communion.

Mom standing in a friend’s wedding. She is in the bottom row.

Buela, mom and her 5 siblings. Mom was the third in the birth order and the girl in the white dress.

OBITUARY

Sofia G. Benavides

28 September, 1931 – 19 August, 2024

Calvary Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery

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Sofia G. Benavides

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