Maricela Delgado Vasquez

Maricela was born on August 13, 1949 in Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, to Aurelio and Gregoria Delgado, where she lived a beautiful childhood as the only girl in a family of five siblings. In that pink house in Mexico she learned from her parents innumerable important life lessons she would then pass on to her children and, beginning at young ages, to her grandchildren. Above all, she instilled in her children an unwavering faith in God, the importance of family unity, and the deep expression of love that can come from cooking and passing on beautiful traditions. In her last 33 days she also taught us the meaning of courage and what a warrior she truly was.

In the mid-‘70s, as a young woman working at one of the coolest jobs one could have in that era (a radio DJ), she met a musician…the love of her life and husband of 42 years, Ramon Vasquez. In 1978, shortly after being married, she followed her husband to start their life in San Angelo, Texas and begin their American dream--and it was exactly that. Throughout their beautiful relationship, they set an example for others of what a marriage should be. It was filled with love, respect, support, and admiration for each other.

Together they had a daughter and two sons, who were her pride and joy. She was especially proud that all three of them earned their higher education degrees. Through hard work and sacrifice, Maricela and Ramon built the foundation that allowed their children to become accomplished adults and to achieve their own dreams. She worked throughout the years as a treasured nanny for several families, in turn helping to support her own. But the work she was most passionate about was in her home with her beloved family, filling countless essential and meaningful roles, too many to ever name. Maricela would do anything and everything for her husband and children, as they were always her top priority.

Perhaps her greatest joy in life came in recent years with the births of her four grandchildren. She proudly took on an important role in caring for her daughter’s two boys from the time of their birth until they reached school age, and dedicated herself to being the best grandmother to all three of her grandsons, and to her precious granddaughter. On Saturday mornings, she attended the boys’ soccer games and cheered them on. She spoiled them and often took special requests for cooking their favorite foods, although that was never allowed for her own children. Wowa enjoyed her grandsons’ help in the kitchen where they sometimes assisted in making pancakes, flour tortillas, and once a year at Christmas, Tamales.

Maricela cherished her Catholic faith throughout her life. She had been a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church since moving to San Angelo long ago, and she was a member of the Saturday Mass Choir. Her joy for singing extended outside of church, as sometimes at family gatherings she would join her husband and sons in singing beautiful traditional Mariachi songs. She sought to learn and enhance her spiritual growth and regularly attended a study group with the Franciscan Sisters. While she was serious in her desire to learn, she did not leave her sense of humor at the door and often had her study group members laughing at her wittiness. For many years she dedicated time to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and prayed for her family, friends, and anyone in need.

Maricela was youthful, full of life, and kept a busy social calendar with family and friends. Every weekday morning she could be found wearing her fashionable, matching workout clothes walking the trails along the Concho River with her walking buddies--four miles to be exact, as she would proudly let you know. She enjoyed get-togethers with her family, taking road trips to see her brothers and their families in Del Rio, and traveling with her husband and her children to many places. She was an avid shopper, especially at her favorite store, Dillards, where she befriended most of the sales ladies. She also enjoyed watching cooking shows and, in keeping up with the times, had transitioned to watching cooking videos on YouTube. However, she still enjoyed a good long phone call and had friends with whom she spoke to almost daily. She had an energy, personality, and humor that was magnetizing to anyone she met, and possessed an uncanny ability to connect and make friends with people of all ages. She cherished real friendship and her loss is felt by many, from lifelong childhood friends to the dear friends she made in recent years.

The loss of Maricela, Mom, Wowa Mariposa is felt most acutely, of course, by her husband, children, and grandchildren who could not possibly have adored her more.

Maricela was preceded in death by her parents, Aurelio and Gregoria Delgado, brothers, Carlos Delgado and Luis Aurelio Delgado.

Maricela is survived by her husband, Ramon Vasquez, daughter, Maricela Vasquez Mendoza and husband Marco Mendoza, and sons, Ramon Vasquez and wife Crystal, and Ruben Vasquez; her brothers, Daniel Delgado and wife Magdalena, Rogelio Delgado and wife Irene, sisters-in-law, Maria Esther Delgado, and Sonia Delgado. Wowa Mariposa, as she was known to them, leaves behind her grandchildren, Marco Aurelio Mendoza, Manuel Antonio Mendoza, Cristian Ramon Vasquez, and Reyli Alejandra Vasquez.

Pallbearers will be her nephews Carlos Delgado, Marco Antonio Delgado, Gerardo Delgado, Jaime Delgado, Daniel Delgado, Sergio Delgado, Roger Delgado, Luis Delgado, and Alejandro Delgado.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Treger, Dr. Goritsas, and Dr. Hitchcock for their compassionate care, and Nurse Eduardo B. in the Intensive Care Unit for giving her the last blessing at the end of her life when her family could not due to COVID restrictions. They would also like to thank family and friends for their continued support and prayer during the most difficult of days.

The family requests that everyone wear a mask during all funeral services, exercise social distancing, and abide by the safety guidelines. Funeral services will be available via livestream through Johnson’s Funeral Home website. Traditional visitation will be held on January 8, 2021 at 5:00 pm. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 8, at Johnson’s Funeral Home, 435 W. Beauregard Ave., San Angelo, Texas. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 9, 2021, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 7 W. Ave. N with Rev. Joey Faylona as celebrant. Interment will follow in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.