Mary was born in Odem, Texas on August 25, 1927.
She is preceded in death by her father, Marcos Benavides, mother Francisca Benavides, son Rudy Beltran and six siblings.
Mary is survived by her husband, Daniel Hinojosa, sons Jimmy (Lisa) and Hector (Annie), daughter Debra Cortinas, daughter-in-law Becky Beltran; Grandchildren Rudy (Toni), Veronica (Danny) J.J., Steven (Sherry), Nicole (Ryan), Lesley, Anna, and Theresa; great grandchildren Troy, Trey, Tara, Tabitha, Matthew, Rosalie, Divya, Wyatt, and Robert; and numerous nieces and nephews.
After the death of her father, the family home in Odem was moved to Presa Street in Corpus Christi. Mary had to end her schooling after the eighth grade to help support her younger sister and mother. She picked cotton in Robstown, worked for Doc McGreggor and then, at Kress in downtown Corpus Christi where she met and soon after married Dan in 1947.
After marriage, Mary was a full time housewife and mother devoted to family. Once her children started school, she began 20+ years of service to public schooling as an active member of the PTA, holding officer positions at school, city, district and state wide levels. In 1975, she was President of the Corpus Christi City PTA.
Other volunteer services included being a Red Cross Volunteer, Den Mother and Girl Scout Leader. She was a highly skilled seamstress making beautiful dresses and men’s suits. After surviving breast cancer she sewed 100’s of puffy pink pillows for breast cancer patients. She liked camping and traveling. Most of her adult life she was in a bowling league and in later years she was organizing bus trips to bowling tournaments for the 55+ bowling league.
Mary was mentor and a role model for many. Young and old would seek her advice. She was quick to help without meddling. She was always smiling. She loved socializing and was lead tamale maker hosting the Hinojosa Annual Christmas Eve tamale party.
A big thank you to Laura at Edens Garden for the loving care over recent months and especially during the last days of Mary’s beautiful life.
Visitation will be held at Funeraria Del Angel - Memorial Holly on Monday, July 29, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a Holy Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. that same evening.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Catholic Church on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. with interment to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FunerariaDelAngelMHolly.com for the Hinojosa family.
