Maria Concei��o Busch

Maria Conceio Raposo Busch surrounded herself with love and family. In her over 50 years of marriage, she was the matriarch of her family, and would often take in neighborhood children in need. "She always put others before herself," said her son, Leo Busch Jr. "she was selfless."

Maria passed away March 5, 2012 at Brooke Army Medical Center surrounded by her family. She was 78.

"So many good memories," remembers her son, Michael Busch. "The last seven or eight years were the best for me, spending time with them in California." Michael recalls drinking wine visiting vineyards with his parents. He can still picture them eating grapes off the California vines.

She was born May 12, 1933 in San Miguel, Azores, Portugal to Mariano Pacheco and Julia (Raposo) Pacheco.

One of three daughters, she earned an English Teaching degree from a Portuguese University. Soon thereafter she met Leo Joseph Busch while he was stationed at Lajes Air Force Base in the Azores, Portugal. They were married Oct. 16, 1955 in San Miguel, Azores.

With Leo in the military, he and Maria traveled the world, living in California, Taiwan, Georgia, U.S., and eventually Texas. They finally settled in San Antonio in 1973 with their three children, Leo Jr., Michael and Linda.

Linda Arceneaux remembers her mother's unabashed love and encouragement. During one of Linda's school track meets, she could hear her mother's cheers above all else, even after Linda quickly winded herself in the first leg of a race and had quickly fallen behind. She loved her children dearly and took pride and everything that they did.

Maria cherished family holidays, vacations and traditions. "We are so fortunate to have the parents we had," said her son, Leo Jr.

Maria and Leo Sr. were married 55 years before Leo passed away in January 2011. She often said he was the love of her life.

She is survived by her two sisters: Lidia Pacheco and Irene Ponte; son Leo Busch and his wife, Elizabeth Busch; son Michael Busch and his wife, Sheri Busch; daughter Linda Arceneaux and her husband Greg Arceneaux, grandchildren Arlen, Aubrey, Nicole and Matthew, and one great-grandchild, Xavier.

FUNERAL MASS

FRIDAY

MARCH 9, 2012

9:30 A.M.

FREEDOM CHAPEL

220 TRUEMPER STREET

BLDG #1528

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE

Those planning to attend the service that do not have a military ID card need to have a driver's license and those driving a vehicle must provide proof of insurance. Please allow time to process through base security.

Maria will be interred with her husband at Fort Sam Houston at a later date.