Maria Isabel Cisneros was born in July 1, 1924 to Antonio and Santos Gomez in Matamoros, Tamaulipas Mexico. After the death of her father when she was three years old, she and her mother moved to Brownsville to live with her sister Celia and husband, Alberto Vera, Sr., who she came to regard as a loving father and their children as siblings. After high school graduation, while walking home from her job at the Chamber of Commerce, she was noticed by Ernesto C. Cisneros, who thought to himself, “I’m going to marry that girl,” which he did on April 8, 1948. They were married 56 years until his death in 2004. Chavelita, as she was affectionately known, was a loving and devoted wife, mother and friend. She ensured that her children had good manners and received a fine education. Holidays were always joyous occasions with a beautifully decorated home and the aroma of cakes and cookies baking in the oven. She was the consummate homemaker. All were welcome to her home; friends of their children often dropped by to visit her. Chavelita loved and respected nature. There were always dogs, cats, birds, fish and even a turtle to delight the household. She was a fabulous cook. Her holiday meals and flour tortillas were legendary. She was born with a green thumb and a beautiful garden was her pride and joy. She was a member of the West Brownsville Garden Club and frequently received the Garden of the Month Award.
She was preceded in death by her sisters Maria Luisa Cortez and Celia Vera, and is survived by her children, Mario Ernesto, Reynaldo Alberto, (Connie), Cecilia Cisneros and Ernesto Luis (Lourdes), and grandchildren Stefan Lee Cisneros, Evan Ray Cisneros, Samantha Noelle Stai, Amanda Celeste Burgess, Maximillian Luis Cisneros and Nicholas Andres Cisneros.The family wishes to acknowledge the love and devotaion of her niece, Yolanda Garcia, who tirelessly cared for her during Chavelita’s senior years. We also thank her loving caregivers Elvira, Juani, Juani de La O, Leti, Mari, Marta and Yoli.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 19, 2018 between 4 and 9 p.m. at Funeraria del Angel Buena Vista, 125 McDavitt Blvd., Brownsville, Texas. Chapel Service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 20, 2018 followed by burial at Buena Vista Burial Park.
