Maria Elena Mata

Born on March 28, 1960, Maria Elena lived a full life of love and service to those around her. Maria Elena attended schools in PSJA ISD, graduating from PSJA High School. She attended The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas-Pan American, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. During her time at the University, she was inducted in the prestigious Beta Gama Sigma honorary society.

Maria Elena worked in both the public and private sector, having worked at General Electric, U. S. Social Security Administration, Girl Scouts and Hidalgo County, among others.

Her passion was baking and cooking. Her cheesecake was renown and coveted by her family and friends. Her cookies and other creations were much requested and consumed quickly.

After the death of her mother, Maria Elena often took the role of moral compass for her siblings, nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. She also served as the center that held the family together. She was direct but caring in her candid advice and opinion.

She believed in civic involvement and was politically active, never shy about fighting for her beliefs. She believed that all had a responsibility to speak to the morality of our society, in public and in private. She supported many political candidates, and racial, gender and economic justice at all levels of society. She also loved animals.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Francisca L. Mata and Manuel Mata Mendoza, and one sister, Maria Del Rosario Mata. She is survived by her brothers and sisters: Sabino Mata of Seattle WA; Arnoldo (Dora E.) Mata of Pharr TX; Marta Alicia Mata of Pharr TX, Maria del Rosario (Javier) Hinojosa of McAllen TX; Alvaro Mata of Round Rock TX; and Josefa Mata of Pharr TX. She is also survived by: nephews Valentin Mata of Seattle WA, Alvaro Adan Mata of Fort Worth TX, Juan Mata of Edinburg TX, and Christopher Mata of McAllen TX; nieces Isabel Mata of Seattle WA, Samantha Elydia Mata of Seattle, WA, and Myra Alexandra Mata of Austin TX; two grand nephews, and four grand nieces.

The viewing will be held Sunday, January 5, 2025, from 12 pm to 2 pm, at Del Angel Funeral Home, 4607 N. Sugar Rd, Pharr, TX.

“If a cause is just, it is never a lost cause.” Maria Elena Mata.