Maria Esperanza Rodriguez Chavez passed away on April 13th, 2022 in Plano, Texas. She was born on 12-16-1929 to Pedro Rodriguez and Timeotea Reza Perez in El Paso, Texas. Ma Esperanza was the youngest child of five children. She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings; as the last member of her nuclear family to be alive for several years.
In 1956 while going out with her girlfriends to Casino Juarez she met the love of her life, Doctor Manuel Cervantes Chavez. Together they had nine children all born in El Paso, TX who gifted them with 11 grandchildren. Ma Esperanza enjoyed her children; especially when they were young and allowed her to re-discover the wonders of the world through their young eyes. She also modeled that it is never too late to learn, when she returned to school and became a Parent Liaison at Vilas Elementary School in the same neighborhood that she grew up in.
Ma Esperanza was a strong-willed loving woman who had the ability to be charming to all. She was a devout Catholic and member of Saint Patrick’s altar society who stayed current on local, national, and world events; praying her rosary for the most pressing events of the day. She strove to live independently for as long as was safely possible. Ma Esperanza especially loved spending time with her children and grandchildren that gathered often in her home especially during the holidays. In her final days Ma Esperanza’s sage advice was “to be safe and do what makes you happy”.
Ma Esperanza is survived by her children, Dolores Chavez (Robert MacLake), Dr Marina Chavez (Dr Miguel Roberto Villarreal), Manuel Chavez Jr (Noemi), Maria (Dr Michael Fisher), Marcella (Alvaro de la Reza), Arturo (Joanne Sullivan), Alfredo (Monica), Pablo (Suzanne), and Laura (David Venegas). Her eleven grandchildren are, Gino de la Reza, Amanda Venegas, Daniel de la Reza, Elena N. Villarreal-Chavez, Jade Chavez, Victoria Venegas, Mary Chavez, Alfredo Paco Chavez, Monica Izabella Chavez, Sierra Chavez, and Manuel Maximus Chavez. Ma Esperanza leaves behind the legacy of raising her children and grandchildren with the philosophy that they can accomplish whatever they aspire to with determination and faith.
Family will receive those who wish to join them for a rosary service from 6 to 8 pm/MT held on Thursday, May 19th at Funeraria del Angel Central located at 3839 Montana Ave, El Paso, TX 79903. A mass at Holy Family Church located at 900 W. Missouri Ave, El Paso, TX, 79902 to follow on May 20th starting at 9 am/MT with final resting place at niche in Memory Gardens of the Valley at 4900 McNutt Road, Santa Teresa, NM, 88008. A celebration of life to follow at Ardovino’s in Sunland Park, NM.
