Maria Teresa Acevedo

Maria Teresa Acevedo, aged 88, passed away on Saturday, October 14, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. She was born in Sabinas Hidalgo, NL, Mexico on November 4, 1934, to her parents Irene Guajardo Flores and Francisco Elizondo Saldaña.

Her mother, Irene, passed at 40 years old and left Francisco with the care of a very young family. Maria Teresa was 6 at the time. Francisco, with the help of extended family, raised his children and never remarried. The family immigrated to the United States and obtained their Green Cards in 1955. The family worked as migrant farm workers for several seasons in California and the Dakotas. The family returned off-season to their beloved Sabinas Hidalgo. Maria Teresa met the love of her life, Roberto Acevedo Montes, in the city plaza in 1955. They would go on to date for 4 years when she returned off-season. She loved dancing and they attended every dance possible, especially the Baile Ranchero and all the December dances that are customary in Sabinas. Maria Teresa would love to attend concerts and weddings where a young Roberto would be playing trumpet along with his brothers and father in the Orquesta La Moda and the Orquesta Carta Blanca. While back in Sabinas Hidalgo, she learned to machine embroider and would work at home to produce beautifully handcrafted pillowcases.

Maria Teresa married Roberto on February 15, 1959 and set up a home in Sabinas Hidalgo. They would go on to Sponsor many newlyweds throughout their life in Sabinas. It was not unusual for someone to approach her at a shop and call her “Madrina.” They would have 2 children: Jose Roberto Acevedo and Brenda Mariflor Acevedo. In April 1970, the entire family immigrated to San Antonio, TX. Maria Teresa valued faith, family and education above all else. She was a parishioner of St. Mary Magdalen, St. Ann, Immaculate Conception and in her later years, St. Anthony de Padua. Maria Teresa was a remarkable friend, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and homemaker. The loss of her mother at such an early age would have an effect on her entire life. She would often comment that she grew up without a mother and had to learn things on her own, thus she would impart her hard-earned wisdom to her children and grandchildren. Maria Teresa worked hard all her life and she wanted an easier one for her children and grandchildren. Jose Roberto would go on to graduate from Texas A&M, Institute of Electronic Science in 1979 and Brenda received a BS in Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance and a Minor in Spanish from Trinity University in 1985.

Maria Teresa helped raise all her grandchildren until they formally started Kindergarten. They were her treasure. Maria Teresa was friendly and outgoing; she never met a stranger. She would often strike up conversations with whomever happened to be nearby. Somehow these people would open up and share very intimate details as she listened and commiserated with their circumstances. She had a Spanish “dicho” for every situation. Her favorite was, “Haz el bien sin mirar a quien” roughly translated to “Do some good without looking at whom.” Maria Teresa was a good neighbor. She knew everyone on her block and many more on her walk to HEB. She would take time to visit and often take homemade food to them and they did the same. She loved cats. The feral cats in her neighborhood would always end up at her door and they would be trapped, spayed, or neutered and returned to her care.

Maria Teresa was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings Baldomero Elizondo Guajardo and Irma Guadalupe Elizondo de Gonzalez; and her son, Jose Roberto Acevedo. She is survived by her loving husband of nearly 65 years Roberto Acevedo Montes; her daughter Brenda M. Acevedo; son-in-law Steve Bartels; daughter-in-law Diana T. Acevedo; grandchildren Gabriella Acevedo, Adam Acevedo (Ivetth Sotelo Flores), Elizabeth Acevedo Bartels-Huizar (James Huizar), and David Acevedo Bartels; great-grandson Abel Acevedo; her sister Josefina Dolores Elizondo de Cervantes; and numerous other extended family members and friends.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff of UT Geriatrics and Palliative Care, especially Dr. Neela Patel, Dr. Angelica Davila, and Dr. Margaret Finley for their outstanding care the last 6 years of her life. Maria Teresa was able to live a full and happy life at home due to the invaluable assistance provided through Family Service Association, especially Bernie Vasquez, Linda Gonzalez, Yolanda De Leon and Diana Ramirez and for that, we are so very grateful.

The family will receive guests from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Monday, October 23, 2023, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

ROSARYMONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 20237:00 PMPORTER LORING NORTH CHAPEL2102 N. LOOP 1604 E.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIALTUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 202310:30 AMST. ANTHONY DE PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH102 LORENZ RD.

Father Kevin Shanahan will officiate. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition, PO Box 692308, San Antonio, TX 78269-2308, sanantonioferalcats.org.