Mariana Mercado Gomez

Mariana is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Epifanio Gomez Sr.; her parents, Aurelia Lopez and Benito Mercado; an infant daughter A. Leticia Gomez; granddaughter, Aurelia Rowan Ines Rios; and brother Gregorio Lopez.

Our beautiful mother, Mariana, was a woman of great faith, who dearly loved her family and God. She will be remembered for her devotion to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as her devotion to the Catholic Church. She was a member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, where she helped with the RCIA classes.

She lived her life to the fullest. She was loving and compassionate. Her beautiful heart, soul and smile will be missed, but will never be forgotten.

Our mother has now come to the time for which she lived. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7. This is not the end, but the beginning. Our comfort lies in the knowledge she will forever be an inspiration of love, faith and courage to her children and everyone else who knew her.

She is survived by her children, Yvonne Gomez and husband Joe Gonzales, Epifanio Gomez, Jr., Jorge Gomez, Ramon Gomez and wife, Sheila, and Aurelia Gomez-Rios and husband, Don; grandchildren, Jorge Jr., Cordelia, Ramon Jr., Lovelia, Charles, Savannah, Isabella, Marisa, Ophelia and Epi; great-grandchildren, Julian, Aurelio and Laila; sisters Maria Inez and Guadalupe, brothers, Ramon, Anselmo and Refugio; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and other family members.

Visitation will be on Friday, December 19, 2014 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 PM, followed immediately by a Remembrance Ceremony celebrating her life at Porter Loring on McCullough Ave.

A mass will be held December 20, 2014 at 10:00 AM at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 1710 Clower St. in San Antonio, TX.

There will be a private graveside service for immediate family members at San Fernando Cemetery, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent in her name to MD Anderson Cancer Center-Ovarian Cancer Research, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210-4486 or online at www.mdanderson.org/gifts 1-800-525-5841