Magdalena E. Elizondo entered eternal salvation on May 15, 2019. She left this life in the arms of her husband, Juan R. Elizondo, and surrounded by her children, Juanita “Janie” Paradoski, Debra “Debbie” Elizondo, Juan Elizondo, and Monica Elizondo. She was blessed to have several of her beloved grandchildren with her. She also spent time with all her grandchildren and her first great-grandchild the day before her final rest.
“Maggie” was born in Berg’s Mill, Texas, on September 1, 1946, to Juanita Buentello. Orphaned at age 7, she was raised with her sister Yolanda by their maternal Aunt Olivia (and Uncle Guillermo) Maldonado and Aunt Adela (and Uncle Jose) Morales in Corpus Christi, Texas. From that young age, Maggie and “Yoli” developed life-long sibling relationships with many cousins, including Rey Campos, Maria M. Morin, Jo-Z Cisneros, and Lupe Murillo.
Maggie graduated from Ray High School in spring 1964 and married “Johnny” Elizondo on October 4. The couple soon moved to Houston and started their family. During their 55 years of marriage, Maggie developed strong bonds with Johnny’s extensive family, including sisters-in-law the-late Josefina E. Aranda, Isabella E. Gongora, Ernestina E. Suarez and Gloria E. Chavez. Among many shared life experiences over the years, one of the more memorable activities was their shared passion for the Dallas Cowboys. She remained devoted to her extended family and their children’s children throughout her life.
Maggie worked for ExxonMobil Corp. for more than 30 years. She demonstrated her kind and giving spirit helping employees and their families understand and access their retirement and death benefits. She was part of a tight-knit team and was especially happy to work with others on the most difficult cases that required extensive research to resolve. Maggie was honored and excited to be with her work family again when she was asked to pause her retirement for a special, six-month project that turned into an additional nine years supporting retirees and their families. She maintained an enduring relationship with her colleagues and was notably one of a handful of people who understood the myriad rules and options available to thousands of employees whose companies were acquired or sold during her decades of service.
Maggie was a tireless volunteer during her children’s time in primary and secondary school. She and Johnny were band parents, drill team parents, volleyball parents, youth group cooks and more. She helped make their home a magnet for her children and their friends, sacrificing her peace and basic needs to buy and maintain a game room, a TV room and an unending supply of snacks. She lavished her children with love and doses of toughness, when needed.
Maggie was inflexible when it came to family vacations. She allowed each child to “decide” one day’s agenda on annual trips. She robbed Peter to pay Paul and sacrificed her own needs to provide childhood memories that life had not fully provided for her.
She, along with her husband Johnny, were faith-filled and instilled that strong faith in her children. As her children grew up and after they left her home, Maggie continued to give to the community around her. She remained a supporter of her children’s high school decades after they graduated. She and Johnny served as pre-marriage counselors for couples set to marry in the Catholic Church. They also counted and deposited church collections, served as Eucharistic ministers and were Lectors who led their congregations in weekly liturgical readings. Maggie would occasionally trade reading assignments with other Lectors but almost never gave one up. She was pained when her physical strength would no longer allow her to serve communion, but still jumped at other opportunities to help at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, her final church home.
Maggie is survived by her husband, children, son-in-law Dennis Paradoski, daughter-in-law Susan Elizondo, grandchildren Daniel Elizondo and his wife Megan Elizondo, Mary Paradoski, Elizabeth Elizondo and Juan JB Elizondo, Jacob Elizondo and great-grandson Ari Elizondo. She’s also survived by her sister, sisters-in-law, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Among her final acts of selflessness, Maggie asked that her friends and family consider making donations to the American Diabetes Foundation, the American Heart Association or St. Jude’s.
And in her extensively detailed funeral planning notebook, she noted this Emily Dickenson passage and unattributed quotation:
“And if I go while you’re still here, know that I live on, vibrating to a different measure behind a thin veil you cannot see through. You will not see me, so you must have faith. I wait for the time when we can soar together again, both aware of each other. Until then, live your life to its fullest. And when you need me, just whisper my name in your heart, I will be there.”
“If you glimpse a fleeting shadow moving cross your window pane or sense a soft and loving touch in each refreshing rain; if you feel a constant presence in the gentle winds that blow; please know it is my spirit. I’ll be with you evermore.
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