Mary Theresa Leyva

Born on December 6th, 1953 to Joe and Alicia Franco in Carlsbad California, Mary Theresa Franco was one of nine siblings.

It was in Carlsbad, CA that a young 15-year-old Mary (better known as Terry), met a young Marine on leave named Manuel Tony Leyva from San Jose, CA who stole her heart and brought her to his home in San Jose where they began to share their lives together.

Manuel and Terry have been happily married for 52 years. During their marriage, Terry gave birth to 3 boys: Manuel, Jr., Danny, and Eric. She is cherished by all her boys. Throughout her life, she was a loving and constant guiding force to her boys that will never be replaced. Because of her influence, three boys became young men - ready for the world.

Terry is also a greatly admired Grandma to her five grandchildren: Miranda, Nevaeh, Isaiah, Eric, Jr., and Gabriel. Her grandchildren were blessed to know what having a Grandma truly is. Someone who's caring, thoughtful, kind, and always happy to see them.

A cook like none other, she will always be remembered as a chef who would blow your socks off with her family's secret salsa, fried chicken, tamales and macaroni salad (to name just a few).

She was a fun-loving soul who was always the first on the dance floor no matter what the music was. Whether it be Cumbias, Oldies, or even House and Jungle, if she could dance to it, she was out there!

Her creativity had no bounds. She loved to sew, color, paint, garden, and work on crafts. She also put together the most difficult puzzles. To her family, they were impossibly difficult because they would try to stump her with the most complicated puzzles and she would still call a week later saying it was complete!

She especially loved to decorate. Her decorations during the holidays would rival those of television competitions!

Apart from being a loving wife, mother, grandma, friend, and homemaker, Terry was business-oriented and an integral part of the family business. Manuel's Shoe repair was a joint venture that she and her husband, Manuel, created that became a thriving Silicon Valley staple for more than 40 years.

In the business itself, she was the friendly face customers would interact with. Terry would repair the rips, soles and heels of customers shoes, perform the dyeing of preferred colors, and other skilled tasks. She also handled the bookkeeping and records that were required for a business with such a broad range of services.

Terry had a huge heart and dearly loved her husband, sons, daughters, and grandchildren. She equally loved and adored her mother and father and numerous relatives including her brothers and sisters, step-brothers and step-sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and everyone she knew.

Terry will be missed beyond words. The words for our sorrow do not yet exist. When they do, this tribute will be updated. Until then, we love you always and forever and are forever thankful for the joy you brought to our lives.

We love you forever,

Manuel and Sons

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.oakhillfuneral.com for the Leyva family.