Hermelinda Perez

Hermelinda “Mary” Perez, born Hermelinda Amaro on October 25, 1943, entered this world as the cherished daughter of Heron and Soledad Amaro in Jericó, Michoacán, Mexico. Though her beginnings were humble, her heart was rich with love for her family and her hometown, a place she never stopped carrying with her.

At just 13 years old, Hermelinda left behind the familiar comfort of her childhood to work in the bustling city of Monterrey, Nuevo León. Every coin she earned was carefully saved and faithfully sent home to help her parents care for her four brothers and little sister. She never complained of the sacrifice. Instead, she took joy in being able to give, proud to stand beside her family in their need.

In 1973, life opened a new door, and she traveled to Houston, Texas, to serve as a housekeeper for a family in River Oaks. By the grace of God, she was always treated with kindness and dignity, and she never missed an opportunity to return home whenever she could. Two years later, Houston became the place where her greatest earthly love story began. She met Jesus R. Perez, and on September 19, 1977, they married. Their union was blessed with three sons, Jesse, Joshua, and David, each born within just a few years of one another. These sons became her greatest pride, her highest calling, and her legacy.

Hermelinda raised her boys with fierce devotion, determined that they would grow into men of integrity, strong in character and rooted in faith. She poured herself into loving God, her husband, her children, and her siblings, never wavering in her loyalty or her generosity. The sacrifices she made for her parents were never forgotten, and her brothers, in turn, honored her with a love that matched the devotion she had shown them.

For more than 30 years, Hermelinda served faithfully as a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. In 2014, she answered God’s call into a new covenant and became a devoted Christian, embracing her faith with renewed passion. She never ceased to love and support her Catholic family, but now her life was marked by fervent prayer and intercession. She became a warrior on her knees, lifting up her loved ones and anyone in need with a faith that would not quit.

In her late seventies, Hermelinda entered a long and difficult battle with dementia. For more than six years she fought with courage and dignity until, on August 10, 2025, she suffered a brain aneurysm. Complications followed, and on August 27, 2025, the Lord gently called her home.

Hermelinda leaves behind her beloved husband, Jesus R. Perez, and their sons and families:

Jesse Perez and his wife, Ileana, and their son, Jesse Daniel.

Joshua Perez and his wife, Crystal, and their children: Joshua, Melanie, Anissa, Joseph, and Elias.

David Perez and his wife, Marie, and their children: David Lazarus and wife McKenna, Malachi and wife Latesha, Jacob, and Arabella.

She also leaves a host of siblings, nieces, nephews, and extended family who will never forget her fierce love and her steady presence.

Though our hearts ache in her absence, we rejoice in the promise that nothing, not even death, can separate her from the love of God. Hermelinda “Mary” Perez has finished her race. She is healed, whole, and alive in the presence of her Savior. We imagine her now dancing on streets of gold, singing with joy, and preparing the best meal in heaven’s kitchen, surrounded by the glory of the One she adored.

Her life was a gift to all who knew her, and her memory will remain forever in our hearts.

A visitation for Hermelinda will be held Tuesday, September 2, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023, with a prayer service at 6:30 PM. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, September 3, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023. A committal service will occur Wednesday, September 3, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.