Mary Lou Ponce

Mary Lou Ponce, age 80, was called home to eternal rest on December 25, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of faith, love, and joy. Though taken suddenly, she now rests in the loving embrace of our Lord and Savior.

Raised next door to St. Helen Catholic Church, Mary Lou lived her faith with conviction and grace. She found strength in prayer, the Holy Eucharist, and the blessed assurance of God's eternal love. She believed deeply in the resurrection and the promise of eternal life. She was a committed member of the Bereavement Ministry, Guadalupana Ministry, Intercessory Prayer Group, and served as a Eucharistic Minister. She was active with the St. Helen annual kermes where she was head of the raffle committee and served as a member of its treasury committee. She retired after working 20 years as a medical receptionist and enjoyed her retirement fully.

Above all, Mary Lou cherished her family. She was a loving spouse, parent, grandparent, and sibling whose greatest joy came from time spent with those she loved. She treasured every moment with her loved ones—from holiday gatherings to Sunday morning breakfast after Mass —and poured her heart into nurturing these sacred bonds. Her love was constant, unconditional, and freely given. Mary Lou embraced life and found happiness in simple pleasures. She loved dancing, shopping, and traveling, especially on her various pilgrimages to Mexico and in particular to the Holy Land including Rome and the Vatican. When physically unable to attend Mass, she faithfully enjoyed and engaged in Mass via EWTN and fulfilled her wish to visit and attend Mass in person at the EWTN site. She loved Las Vegas, both the restaurant and the gaming city. She also loved reading, word search puzzles, a good afternoon nap, her historias, and cheering on her favorite football teams. Her homemade cooking… rice, charro beans, jalapeño cornbread, and salsa were her specialties and part of every family get together.

She is survived by her devoted caregiver and loving husband of 47 years Carlos T. Ponce; her sister Leticia Sparks (Andy) and her brother Rene Lopez (Nora); her children, Criselda Trevino (John), Melissa Alvarado (Pedro Lopez), Sylvia Arellano, Carlos Jr. Ponce (Myra), Danny Ponce (Jen); and her grandchildren, Charlie, Armando, Jacob, Emmanuel, DJ, Aly, Anyssa, Alan, Julia, Liam, Imani, Lilah, and countless nieces, nephews, and godchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Manual P. and Cruzita Lopez, and her sisters, Lydia Calderon and Lucinda Olvera.

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 29, 2025 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Funeraria Del Angel Mont Meta & Memorial Park in San Benito, Texas. A Holy Rosary will be recited at the same location on December 29, 2025, at 7 p.m. A funeral church service will take place at St Helen Catholic Church in Rio Hondo, at 10 a.m. on December 30, 2025. Burial of ashes will occur at Mont Meta Memorial Park on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Helen Catholic Church in Rio Hondo, Texas.

May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.