Belinda Pena Ochoa

The oldest of six children, Belinda was born to Ella Villa Pena and Heriberto Pena in Hebbronville, Texas on Christmas Day, 1927. After graduating first in her high school class, she married young and began her life as a beloved mother, creative homemaker, and compassionate woman of faith.

Belinda lived a rich, full life. She experienced living in Mexico City and Cuernavaca, Mexico and enjoyed traveling to England, Scotland, France, Washington DC, Maryland, and California. She worked as a secretary at the Jim Hogg County Court House and later as a bilingual tester for the SAISD. She served as Secretary to her local AARP chapter, was a prayer warrior in her St. Margaret Mary's rosary circle, and volunteered at her church and at a local WellMed Center. She was always reading and particularly loved learning about health-related matters.

Nick-named "Dr. Ochoa" by family members, she could be relied upon for effective home remedies and recommended dietary changes. She was "downward dogging" to the TV set before yoga was mainstreamed and added wheat germ to her flour tortillas (producing embarrassing freckled tortillas) before anyone was fiber conscious. She was an extraordinary seamstress (making lined suits, drapes & reupholstering), a cake decorator, and an excellent cook. With the help of PBS, she also home-schooled most of her kids so they were reading before starting school.

Perhaps her most enduring legacy is the biting wit and sassy sense of humor that she instilled in all her offspring.

Belinda was in her 80s when she began battling Alzheimer's. She went to her heavenly home on June 26, 2015 at the age of 87 ½. She will be welcomed Home by her husband, Arnoldo Ochoa, 2 brothers [Heriberto Pena, Jr. and Oscar Pena (Esther)] and 1 sister [Levinia Pena Cantu].

Belinda will be dearly missed by her surviving family members, which include the following: 2 sisters [Olga Vivanco and Arminda Stephens Cotton]; 5 children [Nelda Racca, Ray (Mary Pete) Moreno, Nora (Jack) Evans, Arnold Ochoa and Ella Castro]; 5 grandchildren: [Ray Phillip Moreno, Jessica (Michael) Price, Blake Evans, and Alexandra & Isabella Castro]; and, finally, 6 great-grandchildren: [Nina, Ray Michael, Nathanial & Kayla Moreno and Anthony & Jacob Price].

A rosary will be held for Belinda at Porter Loring Mortuary (1101 McCullough Ave) at 7:00pm on Tuesday, July 7, 2015. Family and friends are invited to come early for visitation between 5:00pm- 7:00pm.

A mass will be held in Belinda's honor at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church (1314 Fair Avenue) at 10:00am on Wednesday, July 8, 2015. A graveside service will follow at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer's Association, http://act.alz.org/site/TR?pxfid=280411&pg=fund&fr_id=1060.