It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our DEARLY BELOVED MOTHER, MARIA TOMASA SANCHEZ, 85 years old of San Angelo, Texas, who passed peacefully at home surrounded by her daughter and loving family from this life into the loving arms of Our Lord, on September 7, 2023. Maria Tomasa "Tome" was a light in this world, and now we need to continue shining her light by carrying it within us in our own lives.
Maria Tomasa "Tomé" was born on September 22, 1937, in Eden, Concho County, Texas to Bonifacio Maldonado and Maria Manuelita Esquivel. Maria Tomasa attended Eden, Texas Concho County Independent School District, through the eighth grade.
Maria Tomasa "Tomé" married the love of her life Frank Sanchez on August 3, 1955. They celebrated sixty-seven (67) years of marriage before his death on December 11, 2022, and had five children born of the marriage.
Maria Tomasa "Tomé" was a loving mother and homemaker. She was a remarkable cook, baker, and seamstress. Mother enjoyed preparing meals and baking especially over holidays and when family, friends, and her grandchildren, would come for a visit, she would prepare a meal that included homemade tortillas, and salsa, and for dessert, she baked one of her delicious cakes, pies, and/or cookies. No one ever left without eating, she would make sure of that.
For many years leading up to her passing, she loved to collect a variety of food and baking recipes. She loved to watch food and baking tutorials on the baking and cooking channels during her spare time.
She was a dedicated sports fans and attended many football, volleyball, and baseball games for her children and grandchildren. She loved to attend the games and cheer for them. She also loved and enjoyed watching the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, and Green Bay Packers, and Aaron Rogers, her favorite. Maria Tomasa loved to dance and watch her game shows, and westerns. She also loved crocheting, sewing, and spending quality time visiting with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, whom she loved dearly.
Maria Tomasa "Tomé" was predeceased by her loving husband of 67 years, Frank Sanchez. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Dora Sanchez, and youngest son, Armando Sanchez.
Left to cherish her memory are her children; her daughter, Teresa (Terri) Sanchez-Garza and husband Marion, of San Angelo, Texas, son, Edward Sanchez and wife Elvia, of San Angelo, Texas, and son, Danny Sanchez, also of San Angelo, Texas; her beloved grandchildren, Mark Santiago, Eric Santiago, Joey Santiago, Christopher Sanchez, Gavon Sanchez, Devin Benavides, Danny Sanchez Jr., Gabrielle Sanchez, Danielle Sanchez-Glenn, Brianna Sanchez, Angela Cajas, Adrianna Olvera, Andrew Godines, Serena Deatherage, Jacob Cajas, and Ronnie Cajas III; her great-grandchildren, Cooper Santiago, Christian Santiago, Faith Santiago, Mia Blue Sanchez, Helena Sanchez, Mia Sanchez, Kolton Sanchez, Evie Woodward, Micha Benavides, Sofie Olvera, Dashell Olvera, Andrew Godines, Alexie Godines, and Roman Godines; and her great-great-grandchildren, Josiah Ray Alvarado and Ezra Ray Alvarado.
Maria Tomasa "Tomé" is also survived by her two sisters Lucy Zarate of Ranger, Texas, and Isidra Zarate of San Marcos, Texas, and her brother-in-law Joe Avalos and his wife Virginia of Mason, Texas, and several nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
Maria Tomasa "Tomé" was a proud member of the Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart, 20 E. Beauregard Ave., San Angelo, Texas.
We love like to give a special thank you to the Hospice of San Angelo Nurses: Laura Charlton, Debbie Bishop, Jessica Harding, DJ Alcala, Vickie, Amy, Diana, and Lydia Martinez, for the tenderness and sensitivity they showed our mother during her hospice journey.
A very special thank you to our sister, Teresa Sanchez-Garza, who chose to keep our mother in her home and become our mother's sole caregiver, and for the love, kindness, strength, patience, comfort, tenderness, and sensitivity she shows our mother in her end-of-life journey, as well as the wonderful insights, knowledge, wisdom, strength, comfort, and emotional support she showed our entire family, helping us navigate this challenging time. Thank you sister for all you did.
Please join us for a Celebration of Life at Johnson's Funeral Home, 435 W. Beauregard Ave, San Angelo, Texas at 5:00 PM on Friday, September 15, 2023.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at St. Charles Catholic Church, 302 Moss St, Eden, Texas.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Eden Cemetery, Ranch Road 2402, Eden, Texas.
Your Hug Meant The World
Nobody else held me so tight
Or made me feel so right
No one's eyes shined so bright with love
As my mother.
