Herlinda Gutierrez Cantu

Herlinda was born in San Antonio, Texas on December 4, 1919, to Sofio Anda Gutierrez and Carolina Chapa Carmona. Her parents married in New Braunfels, Texas, on January 23, 1919. Her father, Sofio, was born on April 30, 1894, in Union de San Antonio, Jalisco, Mexico. Her mother, Carolina, was born May 25, 1902, in Devine, Texas.

As a young child she lived on a hacienda in Jalisco, Mexico, where her father was born. Her ancestors had lived in Jalisco since the 1500s, after arriving from Europe. Her father was a charro, equestrian, and manager of the hacienda. During the Cristero Rebellion in the late 1920’s, Herlinda’s father was murdered, and she, her pregnant mother, and three brothers fled Mexico to Texas. Her family lost their possessions and inheritance when they left and life became very difficult for them. First they stayed with Herlinda’s maternal grandmother, Francisca Chapa, a midwife in New Braunfels. Later they moved to San Antonio where she lived for the rest of her life.

Herlinda assisted her mother in caring for her siblings and continued to do so for two sisters throughout her life. She loved music, theater, and sang opera at Sidney Lanier and was a member of the Glee Club. During the Depression, she had to abandon her dreams and leave school to help her mother support her brothers and sisters. From Monday to Friday she worked for and lived with a wealthy San Antonio family as a babysitter.

On February 12, 1939, in Cementville, Herlinda married Manuel Monico Cantu (deceased), in the schoolhouse transformed by its teachers into a chapel for the marriage. Today Cementville is the Quarry Market Shopping Center in Alamo Heights. Herlinda and Manuel were married for sixty-three years and had five children, four are still alive today. She and her husband owned and operated businesses and rental properties. She managed daily operations and co-managed finances. Customers and tenets thought she was pleasant, considerate and kindhearted. Herlinda and Manuel were true partners in all things and enjoyed the simple life; fishing, hunting, gardening and travel. They had many wonderful adventures throughout their marriage.

After she married, she became a member of La Trinidad United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school and vacation bible school as well as assisted in the various Christmas and Easter pageants. She and her husband were active in the Young Adult Fellowship and worked tirelessly to fund the needs of the church and community. They established the annual Forth of July Barbecue and Palm Sunday Fish Fry fundraisers. They provided the crew and resources of their business, M. Cantu Hauling Service, during the renovation of the church. After the renovation was complete, they donated the sanctuary cross, backdrop and lamps. They celebrated their golden anniversary on February 12, 1989, at the church where they renewed their wedding vows. Herlinda remained a member of the church until her death.

During World War II, Herlinda, who loved her country, worked in the power plant of Alamo Cement to support the war effort. She, her mother and her mother-in-law, Belen Osuna organized a prayer group for men serving including her three brothers in the Air Force, Army and Navy. Fortunately, by the grace of God, all of the men on the prayer group’s list including her brothers returned safely.

Herlinda valued education and was an advocate for her children. She fought for the rights of the cement workers’ children learning in the company’s two-room schoolhouse. She wanted them to be given the opportunity to further their education by attending Alamo Heights Schools. Unfortunately, the only means to achieve that end was to move from Cementville. She and her husband saved enough money to purchase land in the Alamo Heights School District. They built their first home in the Alamo Heights attendance area allowing them to send their children to better schools. All four children attended district schools. Three of their children went on to receive higher education degrees. Their daughter Linda, earned a Master’s degree in Education from UT Austin, and son Manuel Victor, received an Electrical Engineering degree from Texas Tech University.

Herlinda was a skilled seamstress. She sewed her own wedding gown, her family’s clothing, draperies, bedspreads and other household items. She also enjoyed participating in quilting circles and teaching her two daughters to sew.

Herlinda had a heart a big as Texas and shared her smile and kindness freely. She was selfless and always put family and others before herself. She was a woman of profound faith and was confident that she was never alone in any struggle. She loved the scriptures and read her bible every night before bedtime.

Herlinda is survived by her sister, Irene Hernandez, children; Herlinda G. Cantu, Manuel Victor Cantu and wife Charlotte, David G. Cantu and wife Julie and Elizabeth G. Cantu Newcomb and husband Rick.

Herlinda had eleven grandchildren; Deborah Cantu Garcia, Samuel Manuel Garcia and wife Ann, Diana Ruth Garcia McBroom and husband Jeffrey, Rey John Garcia, Christopher Cantu and wife Christy, David Christopher Cantu, Shawn Cantu, Augustine John Frkuska III and wife Meghan, Joshua Alexander Frkuska and wife Yuko, Troy Cantu and wife Leticia and Beth Newcomb and husband Eric. She had eleven great grandchildren; Michelle Garcia White, Geoffrey Garcia, Madeline Elyse McBroom, Brittany Estes Garcia, Erica Cantu, Abby Elaine McBroom, Reese Cantu, Faith Cantu, Jewel Cantu, Ken Omura Frkuska, and Logan Lee Newcomb and two great-great grandchildren, Jack Stewart and Israel Cantu Ledon.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her five brothers, Benedicto Gutierrez, Benedicto Gutierrez, Lorenzo Gutierrez, Sofio Gutierrez, Felix Gutierrez, three sisters Felicitas Gutierrez, Flora Hernandez, and Janie Hernandez, and son Jesus Cantu.

On Sunday December 20th there will be a viewing from 6-7 p.m. and service from 7-8 p.m. at the Sunset Memorial Funeral Chapel, 1701 Austin Highway. The funeral will be on Monday December 21st at La Trinidad United Methodist Church, 300 San Fernando, viewing from 10-11 a.m., service at 11a.m-noon, and luncheon directly after in the church community center.

In lieu of flowers please continue Herlinda’s legacy by donating to La Trinidad United Methodist Church, 300 San Fernando, San Antonio, Texas 78207.

“Where Love is… there God is also.”