Rosa Maria Heredia was born on Sept. 6th, 1945 in Torreon, Coahuila. She was married to her husband, Esteban Heredia, for over 50 years. She was born into a family with 18 brothers and sisters. Growing up in such a large family gave her a great sense of community. She always had her door open for the people who lived in her neighborhood and she inspired people to come together help each other out. She was an active member in her community and always offered her help to people in need. She worked most of her life as a paralegal, having been mentored by Judge Albert Armendariz Sr. She specialized in immigration law and offered her services to help as many people as she could in her home town of El Paso, TX. Even near the end her life she was still serving her community. She had the honor of giving Beto O’ Rourke his oath before he ran for Senate on Nov. 7th, 2018. She also loved her family. One of her greatest joys was passing on her secret recipes to the younger generations. Anyone who has tasted her cooking knows how priceless that information is. Her legacy of cooking will be carried on by her family, who cherish her teachings. She was a pillar in her family that everyone knew that they could turn to for help, advice, and wisdom. She instilled the same sense of community that she grew up with into her family and loved ones. Her memory will live on through her family for generations to come.
She is survived by her husband, Esteban Heredia, her children, Elizabeth Aguirre & Fred Aguirre, Catherine Salas, Steven Heredia & Lily Heredia, and Jeffery Heredia, her adoptive children Yvonne Orduno, Hermelinda Tapia, and Robert Mascoro, her brothers & sisters, Clara Barajas, Alfonso Tinajero, Manuel Tinajero, and Carmen Velasquez, as well as twenty-three grandchildren and twenty-eight great-grandchildren. Rosa was a strong, familial woman who raised her children strong and helped to raise her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. All the children who have ever been in her care will remember the following nursery rhyme. She sang it often.
“You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When sky's are gray
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away”
Even though her light has burned out, we still feel her warmth. She will always be our Sunshine.
