Mary Lou Grimaldo Reyes

Mary was born on May, 5, 1935 at the J. Welder Ranch in Victoria, Texas where her father worked as a ranch hand and her mother as a housekeeper. Mary began her education at Sacred Heart Elementary and at Incarnate Word Academy. She then attended Milby High School where she was a member of the high school marching brigade, graduating in 1955. Mary started her customer service career at a candle factory where she often collected and shared different types and shapes of candles. As she furthered her service career, she began waitressing and enjoyed working at Intercontinental Airport's various restaurants where she delighted in chatting with the travelers. This experience in food service would later carry forward to a career in the nutrition department at the Aldine Independent School District until she retired in 2001. She was a proud member of the Catholic Church.

At home Mary was always the hostess. She loved to cook and cherished the opportunity to serve her many guests, endeavoring to make them feel as comfortable and as at home as possible. Moreover, she loved decorating her home throughout the year for the various holidays. By far, her favorite was decorating her home in the colors red, white and blue to display her patriotism. In addition, she loved traveling and was always up for a trip to the casino. However, every trip she took was done with a purpose because she wanted to see and experience places that she had read or heard about. She traveled extensively to the east coast visiting Washington, D.C., New York, Miami, Orlando-Disney World, Charleston and many other cities and points of interest. Most of all, she loved following her grandson Teddy's military career by visiting several military bases where he was stationed.

Because of her faith, she made pilgrimages to and visited the Santuario de Chimayo and delighted in visiting the Miraculous Staircase at Loretto Chapel both in New Mexico. These pilgrimages also included visiting the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle in Texas, the St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Texas, the Shrine of the Holy Spirit in Missouri and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. In addition to her faith, Mary took great pride in being a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and teacher to each family member as she stressed the importance of education and the responsibility of being a good person. For Mary, being a good person would often include coming out of her comfort zone when watching her favorite football and baseball teams. Always cheering for her favorite players to win.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Steven Ryan Reyes; parents, Daniel and Sofia Grimaldo, and her brothers, Daniel Grimaldo, Gregory Grimaldo and Rudy Grimaldo.

Left to cherish Mary's memory are her children; Laura Reyes Unger, (Steve), Sylvia Reyes Rosenberger ,(John), Yolanda Reyes Chavez ,(Christopher), Steven Ryan Reyes, Jr., (Dalilah), Theodore Reyes, Sr., (Elizabeth) and Thomas Reyes; grandchildren, Stephanie Unger Heefner, (Johnathan), Ursula Unger Veserra ,(Matthew), Taneal Unger Arri, (Nicolas), John Phillip Rosenberger, Jr., (Nichole), Joel Daniel Rosenberger, Joseph Stephen Rosenberger, (Kelly), Julia Mary Rosenberger, Jeremiah James Rosenberger, Julian Sanchez Reyes, Cheyenne Sanchez Reyes, Theodore Reyes, Jr., (Sarah), James Reyes, Jocelyn Reyes, Amber Reyes, Christopher Chavez, II, (Eneidy), Mitchell Chavez, (Haley), Brian Chavez, and Ryan Reyes; great-grandchildren, Scarlett and Harrison Heefner; Anthony, Ian and Victoria Veserra; Aidan, Liam, Roan and Magdalena Arri; Malachi and Angelina Richberger; Christopher, Martin, Noelle and Grayson Chavez; Theodore lll, Tyden Francis and Travis Niccoli Reyes.She is also survived by her siblings, Epimenia Jaquez, (Jim), Theresa Romo, Suzie McGee, (Jerry), and Barbara Grimaldo; brother, Arthur Grimaldo, (Linda).

Serving as pallbearers; Steven Reyes, Jr., Teddy Reyes Jr, James Reyes, Christopher Chavez II, Mitchell Chavez, Ryan Reyes, Stephen Rosenberger and Jeremiah Rosenberger.

The Grimaldo Reyes family would like to give special thanks to Divinity Hospice for the wonderful help and care given to Mary Lou.

A visitation for Mary will be held Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023. A rosary service will occur Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023. A funeral service will occur Thursday, October 28, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St Joseph Pkwy, Houston, TX 77002. A committal service will occur Thursday, October 28, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM at Forest Park Lawndale, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ForestParkLawndaleFH.com for the Grimaldo Reyes family.