Elsa Dolores Maldonado

Elsa D. Maldonado (Loustaunau), 61, a women of God and faith; with a special devotion to Our Blessed Mother, was wrapped in the mantle of Our Lady; who accompanied Elsa to her Son, who then said, “Welcome home my good and faithful daughter”. Her transition began during the hour of the Divine Mercy, on November 15, 2017; while surrounded by her husband and children.

Born in El Paso on October 12, 1956, she attended Blessed Sacrament Parochial School where the nuns had a profound influence on her life, especially Sisters Maria and Lavern. She was a 1974 graduate of Loretto Academy and a 1977 Honors graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso.

She was elected the 1974 Lions District 2T3 Queen and represented the district in competition at the Texas State Lions Convention in Waco.

Elsa married in 1978 and moved to Houston where she had careers with IBM, Kroger’s and Hydril. In 1985, she and her husband were transferred to El Paso and returned with two children. In El Paso, she volunteered at Polk Elementary School and worked for Generation 2000 and for Price’s Dairy in their Give ‘Em Five Community Outreach Program.

Elsa was active in the Boy Scouts of America, having served as a Cub Scout Den Leader in Pack 29 and a merit badge counselor for Troop 4. She would rather be on the trail and in a tent than in a 5-star hotel. Elsa loved nature and with the Boy Scouts or just with her husband, participated in 14, 50-mile backpacking and canoeing trips that included Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, the Pecos and Gila Wildernesses, the Guadalupe’s, Fort Davis, Grand Canyon and Big Bend. She also completed with her husband the 120 mile-8 day Green River float in Utah. She enjoyed riding her motorcycle dirt bike in the mountains of New Mexico, Arizona, and on the Fuentes Ranch in Shafter, Texas; and especially on the Rio Grande levee from Vinton to Mesilla for lunch at La Posta and then back to El Paso.

Elsa was very dedicated and faithful to Our Lord and a member of the Catholic Church. As a parishioner of Queen of Peace, she was active or at one time participated in the Ladies Guild, KINGS Youth Group Leader, Catholic Scripture Studies Leader, Lecturer, Choir, led the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy on first Friday, organized and recited yearly, the Patriotic Rosary on our Nations birthday and attended Mass daily. She attended the first ACTS retreat held in El Paso and eventually served several times on Team. She was an ACTS Co-Director, Director, Spiritual Director and Music Ministry Director. As part of her devotion to Our Blessed Mother, Elsa made pilgrimages to the Holy Ground of Medjugorje and to the Shrines of Fatima and twice to Lourdes to honor Our Lady.

Elsa also volunteered her time, reciting a weekly Rosary for the residents at the Bartlett Assistant Living Community; and also helped wherever and whenever she could.

In April of 2013, Elsa was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, just two weeks before hiking the 492 mile trek of “El Camino de Santiago”, from France, across the Pyrenees Mountains to the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela in Spain; where St. James’ remains are interred beneath the alter. “El Camino” is a pilgrimage that began in the 9th century, and the route taken by St. James after Christ’s death to spread the word of Our Lord.

Because of the surgeries and treatment, that trip was postponed until May 2015. Three months after her third round of chemotherapy, Elsa hiked with backpack; the entire Camino in 33 days, averaging 15-17 miles per day. She visited every opened church and cathedral along the path, lighting candles and praying for the Grace to accept God’s Will, all cancer patients, and priests and religious. http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/life/wellness/2015/07/18/following-way/71962600/. Elsa has now embarked on her final “Camino”, “El Camino Del Cielo”. “Buen Camino”!

Elsa is preceded in death by her father and “chemo buddy”, Alfonso R. “Poncho” Loustaunau, Sr. She is survived by her loving husband, trail and tent mate of over 39 years, Victor; who is so grateful that she shopped at Furr’s Supermarket at Hondo Pass and Dyer, where they met in 1973, and began a beautiful 44 year relationship. My dear sweetheart Elsa, start exploring the back trails of Heaven, for when I get to be with you again, we can pick up where we left off. Her daughter, Dr. Christine Maldonado-King (Paul and Elsa’s unborn grandchild); son Matthew and grandson Michael Jimenez. While dating and during talks of marriage, Elsa made it clear that if the marriage was blessed with children, that she wanted to put her career aside and be a full time mother, something she was able to do. She was not just her children’s mother, but their spiritual mentor and a counselor to them. No matter how small or large the issue, Elsa was their confidant who had just the right words to console them and make things more pleasant. Also surviving her is her mother, Adelina “Margie” Loustaunau; bothers Bob Loustaunau (Christy), Mike Loustaunau (Julie), of Midland, TX, David Loustaunau (Laurie) and sister Kathy Langford (Ben) as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Elsa and the family would like to thank Fathers Emmanuel Alcazar, Joe Molina, Richard Sotelo, Beto Lopez, Fred Bayler, Trini Fuentez and Sister Julia Donez for their anointing, and or blessings over the years of fighting cancer; with a special thanks to Father Molina for coming to our home to serenade Elsa with songs of worship on his guitar and with his vocals. God is Good!

The family would especially like to thank Dr. Panagiotis Vililis and the staff at Texas Oncology for their compassionate care. Special blessings go to the entire Vililis family especially Nick. We would also like to thank Dr. Salvador Saldivar, Dr. Azalia Martinez, Dr. Hilda Chavez and Mariposas Hospice; especially JoJo Anchondo and Blanca Esparza for their compassionate loving care. A special recognition to Mary Beth Medicke, RN for her dedicated support, kindness and attentive care not only to Elsa, but the entire family.

Many thanks to the parishioners of Queen of Peace, friends and family for all their prayers, support and gifts of flowers and meals.

Special warm and loving thanks and recognitions goes out to:

Jim Myers, Eucharistic Minister, who brought Elsa the Body of Christ daily.

Elsa’s Ya-Ya’s; Rita Schaeffer, Maria Ludeman, Marisa Chavaria, Sylvia Quintana, Terry Dreher and Marie Baker for their years of friendship, support, visits and prayers.

Rosa Bean, both our children’s first grade teacher and close family friend, who came every day over the last two months to give Elsa massages, to help relieve the constant pain of cancer.

Alma Rios-Flores for her years of service at Elsa’s home.

Yolie Bowling and Maribel Armendariz, Elsa’s hairdresser and manicurist, who volunteered to come to our home after hours to keep Elsa’s spirits fresh and bright.

Elsa’s little sister, Kathy; who became the “big Sister” and helped Elsa and her immediate family every day in bringing them comfort in every way possible. You made Elsa more at peace in her last days, especially in reciting the rosary to her; and made our lives easier in coping with your sister’s decline.

As a father, I would like to thank my children and son-in-law, Christine, Matthew and Paul, who put their careers on hold, as she did hers; to be at their mother’s side every day for the past two months, lovingly catering and caring for her every need. It was beautiful witnessing her children doing for her, what she did over the many years for them. Praise God!

In lieu of flowers, Elsa and the family strongly ask that donations be made to any of the following funds: the Rio Grande Cancer Foundation, the Teal Fund and the Diana I Will Live Foundation, all who provide support, encouragement and hope to cancer patients and their families. https://youtu.be/ROrd-xlgkEw

Funeral for Elsa is directed by Martin Funeral Home West. Services will be held at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 1551 Belvidere on Tuesday November 21, 2017; with visitation from 5:00PM to 9:00PM, and Rosary vigil at 7:00PM. A Mass in celebration of life will be held at Queen of Peace on November 22, 2017 at 10:00AM. Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park, 4848 Alps. A reception in remembrance of Elsa will follow at Queen of Peace.

Arrangements under the direction of Martin Funeral Home, El Paso, TX.