Mary Sanchez Almendarez

Mary Almendarez was born in Crabb, TX (Ft. Bend County), the last of ten children to Pedro and Petra Sanchez. After her father’s death, shortly after her birth, Mary’s family moved to Houston where she was raised by her mother, and beloved sister, Margie. Mary and her brother Pete spent much of her youth with her sister Margie and Margie’s husband, Primo Acosta. Margie and Primo were such role models to Mary, Margie’s love of family, fashion sense and elegance entranced Mary, and Primo’s activism and true passion for education and social justice – left a lifelong impression on Mary.

A product of Houston Independent School District for her entire primary and secondary education, she graduated from Jefferson Davis High School and attended the University of Houston. While enrolled in U of H, Mary began working as a teletype operator for Mitsubishi Corp. and then took a position with the U.S. Dept. of Labor, where she worked as a Claims Examiner for over 27 years. Shortly after her “retirement” from her work with the federal government, Mary went back to work as a Reservation Agent for Continental Airlines and she and her daughter enjoyed many trips – Paris, Rome, Costa Rica, Mazatlán, and Hawaii, to name a few.

However, Mary’s true passion and impact were through her involvement as a community volunteer for over 50+ years. She was a true leader and trailblazer. The list below is just a small sampling of both her work, along with numerous leadership positions that she held in the various organizations:

• Harris County Tejano Democrats – Chair, ’95-97 & working member for over 40+ yrs

• LULAC Council 402, President – ‘02-‘06 - working member for over 20+ yrs

• Precinct Jude, election Judge, Early Vote & Mail Ballot Board Chair, ‘96

• One of the original founder and First President – Hispanic Women in Leadership, ‘88

• Numerous other volunteering position for local, state, and national Democratic candidates

However, Mary’s greatest volunteer passion was being the Scholarship Chair of LULAC’s Council 402. Mary worked tirelessly to fundraise and provide much-needed scholarship funds to very deserving college-bound students. Under her leadership, dating back to the early 2000’s, hundreds of students were awarded scholarships, a remarkable accomplishment that led to Council 402’s recognition as one of only two councils in the country to have awarded the most scholarship funds nationally. Throughout her professional and personal careers, Mary had been called upon to assist with numerous training conferences, as well as various community projects – all geared toward helping to better her community and in particular, providing opportunity for Houston’s youth.

Mary is the proud mother of Felina Almendarez Carley. Mary found the meaning of true love when her granddaughters, Laurel and Belle Carley, entered her life. Mary spent as much time as she could with her granddaughters both in Austin and Houston – spending summers and weekends taking the girls on new adventures to the zoo, aquarium, celebrations in the backyard and Nana’s favorite thrift stores.

Mary’s kindness, joy, love, and spark will be missed by her family. We also rejoice knowing that Mary is finally able to reunite with her parents, Pedro and Petra Sanchez. As well as being welcomed by her siblings that have proceeded her in death; sisters: Guadalupe Torres, Jovita Cantu, Marcelina Acosta, and Cruz Lara; and brothers: Jose Sanchez, Victor Sanchez, Ramon and Pedro Sanchez and several nieces and nephews. Mary is survived by daughter, Felina Carley; son-in-law, David Carley; and granddaughters, Laurel and Belle Carley. And her brother Christino “Chris” Sanchez, sister-in-law Sylvia Sanchez, sister-in-law Frances Sanchez; as well as nieces and nephews.

Mary’s generosity and trailblazing spirit will live on in the hearts of those that loved her.