Elida Parra Robles

Elida Parra Robles, age 87, entered her eternal rest on Thursday, May 22, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. She was reunited in Heaven with her beloved husband of 65 years, Roger Santos Robles, who preceded her in death in 2023, as well as her youngest son Joseph, and her parents, Maria and Juan Parra. She was born on August 23, 1937 growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is survived by her sons Michael, Samuel and Mark.

She was known by all as a sweet, kind and good-natured woman with a beautiful smile, beloved by her family and friends and all those she met. She was the second child among four girls and a younger brother. As a child, her sweetness earned her a nickname from her grandfather. He called her “Honita” and, for the rest of her life, her side of the family always called her “Honey”.

She graduated from Roy Miller High School in 1956. About a year later she got a job working for a traveling priest with an office in San Antonio. Her family was not happy about her moving out of town but for her it was very exciting and it became a huge turning point in her life. Not long after arriving in town, she met a certain young man by the name of Roger Robles. He had just returned home after serving a two-year enlistment in the Army. He intended to stay only briefly, planning on traveling to visit his buddies from the Army. His Army buddies never saw him again because, about a year later, they were married. They were married 65 years and he absolutely adored her.

Before long there were four little boys running around the Robles household. She grew up in a house full of mostly girls so having four rowdy little boys wasn’t something she was prepared for. Still, she adored her boys and did her best to take care of them and keep up with all the mess they created. She learned to adapt to all the outdoor activities they got into. Being a pious woman, she also tried to instill faith in her boys setting up a small shrine for them, teaching them their prayers and taking them to mass on Sundays.

In the early 1970’s Roger, who had not been pious, began to feel a strong spiritual hunger and a desire to renew his faith. This eventually led to a great conversion experience that he would later call the “baptism of the Holy Spirit”. He was led into the Catholic Charismatic Renewal where he found his spiritual home. He was soon going from prayer meeting to prayer meeting, speaking in tongues and praising the Lord for everyone to hear. He convinced Elida, to join him and she also was baptized in the Holy Spirit. She was soon speaking in tongues and praising the Lord as well. Prayer meetings and other charismatic events became the focus of her life. She got involved in a number of spiritual groups and spent much of her time active in them. Bible study became a big part of her life attending many studies and courses.

Roger and Elida got involved in a prayer group at St. Mary’s University and became leaders of the group. They made it a spiritual refuge for many people for many years. She and Roger became spiritual leaders that people in need could trust. It became the center of their lives. She would arrange the music for the prayer meetings, singing and playing the tambourine. They led that group for 35 years.

In the early 1980’s, after all the boys graduated and moved out of the house, she decided to find a job working outside the house. She went to work at a Christian book store and soon made a big impact there. It was one of the few religious stores in town and she helped them to attract Catholics to the store. She showed the Protestant store owner the kind of books and other products they should carry that Catholics would want. She would set up book tables at various church events selling items to the attendees. She worked hard, always wanting to help people but it was her personality and smile that always brought in the customers. She met many of the very faithful people in town including many priests and nuns and made them her customers. It was there that she earned another nickname: “The Book Lady”. She worked at that store for 15 years.

In the late 1980’s she and Roger moved to the north side of town and began attending St. Mark the Evangelist church. Soon they were involved in many of the groups and activities there. She loved the ACTS retreats, Guadalupanas, Women’s Guild and many other groups there. She became a Eucharistic minister. Bible study became one of her main activities becoming a leader in the group. She got permission to set up a book table at the bible study classes continuing her role as “The Book Lady”. She loved selling books, bibles and religious items and making friends of all her customers.

The people of St. Mark adored her and she became a beloved figure of the church. Elida and Roger were part of the St. Mark family for more than 30 years.

She and Roger both experienced many health problems later in life. Around 2015 Roger was diagnosed with dementia and required a lot of personal care. After that, Elida spent most of her time caring for him. At the same time, she suffered numerous health issues of her own. Roger passed in 2023. Her health continued to decline after that.

Through it all Elida was a light to the world. She always set an example of kindness, sweetness, strength, faith and love of God that all could see. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. We will all miss her beautiful smile!

A visitation will take place on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church 1602 Thousand Oaks Dr., San Antonio, TX 78232, with a rosary at 10:30 a.m. and mass to follow at 11:00 a.m., respectively.

Immediately following the mass, there will be a procession to the graveside service at Robles Cemetery 21780 Babcock Rd., San Antonio, TX 78256.

A reception will take place back at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church at 2:00 p.m., 1602 Thousand Oaks Dr., San Antonio, TX 78232.