Leonor Rodriguez Segura

Leonor Rodriguez Segura departed this earthly life on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at age 96 in the home of her daughter in Pflugerville, Texas. She was born on April 6, 1928 in Pacho, Colombia. She was the middle child of 5 children to Eduvigis Pinzon and Filemon Rodriguez.

In her early years in Pacho, Colombia, she and her siblings were raised in a one-bedroom cabin on a half-acre of land where they learned the virtues of hard work, faith, and family.

Leonor began her professional career as a grade school teacher in 1947 in Bogota, Colombia. In 1952, she decided to go to nursing school, where she met several of her lifelong friends. “Las comadres” inspired one another to pursue more specialized fields, and Leonor received her Radiographic Technologist diploma in 1956. She worked at the Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses (National Institute of Forensic Medicine and Sciences).

In 1963, she married Hector Horacio Segura, a widower with two young sons. She had her daughter, Sandra, in 1967. The family immigrated to the United States in 1969 and settled in Chicago, Illinois. The following year, Leonor had her son, Harold “Hank”.

After passing the required registration tests, Leonor continued to work as an X-Ray Technician at a Chicago clinic until 1979 when her family moved to Katy, Texas. She wanted to continue to work, so she attended night classes at Houston Community College and worked her clinical hours at Memorial City General Hospital. In April of 1988, at the young age of 60, Leonor was certified as a Registered Radiologic Technologist.

Just as the unwavering persistence with which Leonor accomplished her professional goals, she also gave her unconditional love to her family and friends. Birthdays always included a favorite meal and a handwritten note of love and encouragement. Thanksgivings featured her special deboned, meatloaf-stuffed turkey and baked sweet potato casserole. If you had the sniffles or complained of a sore throat, she would prepare her herbal tea with lemon and honey (or prescribe it over the phone). She had a different tea cure for every ailment. Her apothecary knowledge was handed down to her from her mother, as was her love of gardening. Roses, mint, aloe vera, and rosemary plants would “appear” at every house she lived. Other things that would appear were here handcrafts, like macramé plant hangers and embroidered napkins and tablecloths. At Christmas, a nativity scene was a must, along with praying a Novena and being gifted her favorite Chanel No. 5.

Leonor made friends easily and made the time to spend with them. Whether it was just a phone call or a visit to share a meal (preferably Popeye’s Chicken), she genuinely enjoyed exchanging the latest family news with her friends. As her children went off to college, the military, and married lives, Leonor cherished the holiday get-togethers. The family gatherings usually involved a game of Continental Rummy, at which she quietly excelled, winning the majority of the time.

Aging hips and knees finally slowed her down in her 90’s. She reluctantly began using a cane at age 92. Then hearing loss and dementia began taking away her independence. Through it all, she continued to dole out tea remedies and send hugs and kisses to family and friends via phone and video calls.

Leonor is preceded in death by her husband, Hector Sr., her son Harold, and her brothers and sisters, Luis, Jael, Eduardo, and Helena.

She is survived by her daughter Sandra, and her sons Hector Jr. and Victor. She leaves behind granddaughters Liliana, Nicole, and Michelle, as well as several nieces and nephews and extended family members who will miss her dearly. She was a second mom, a favorite Aunt, and close friend to many who surely have a story to tell of her generous heart.

Services will be held Sunday, July 7, 2024 at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX, beginning with a visitation from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, followed by a funeral service from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, and a reception from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.