Alicia A. Benavides

Alicia A. Benavides, 81, of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, June 11, 2023. Born in Corpus Christi on August 20, 1941, she was predeceased by her son Oscar Francisco, Jr. in 2009, and by her husband, Oscar Francisco, Sr. in 2010, after a 52 year marriage.

Alicia attended culinary school and floral design classes at Del Mar College. She worked many years as a school bus driver for CCISD before deciding to devote her life and career to caring for her home and family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Throughout her life, Alicia had a passion for music which she shared with her family. She loved to sing, dance, and enjoyed playing the guitar and piano. Friday nights were "mariachi" and karaoke nights at a local restaurant which she did not like to miss. During most of their married life, Alicia and Oscar enjoyed many long-term friendships with other couples who also loved to dine and dance together.

She loved treating her family to delicious meals, especially her Mexican rice pudding (atole de arroz) and special Thanksgiving bread stuffing. She loved baking sweet treats and pretty cakes. She will be remembered lovingly as "Tia Licha" by many nieces and nephews for her fabulous stories laden with funny jokes.

Her most absolute favorite thing to do in all of her life was to be a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved spending time with her family and left them with the legacy of togetherness. "Even after I am gone, it is your responsibility to stay together, united as one, and to always care and look out for each other."

Alicia and Oscar were lifelong members of Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church and enjoyed celebrating Mass together until Oscar's passing. She continued to practice her Catholic faith and attended Mass weekly remotely by way of her television screen.

In addition to her son and husband, she was also preceded in death by her parents, Maria Rita and Simon Adame, her sisters Maria Elena Adame, Belia Adame Valdez and Lidia Adame, and brother Raul Adame.

She is survived by her daughter Norma (Tony) Juarez, Grandchildren Ray (Loretta) Villarreal, Randy (Audrey) Villarreal, Rita Juarez (Rick), Frank (Dionne) Juarez, Great Grandsons Anthony, Jacob, Joseph (Jojo), Orlando (OJ), Great Granddaughters Victoria, Lorene, Alyssa, Desiland, Jasell, Emma, Jaelyn, Raine, Great Great Grandson Drayson and Brothers, Richard Adame and Ramiro Adame, and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Anthony Villarreal, Jacob Villarreal, Joseph Villarreal, Jonathan Ruiz, Maverick Ramirez and Gunner Wayne.

A visitation for Alicia will be held Monday, June 19, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415 with a holy rosary at 7:00 PM. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Memory Gardens Funeral Home. A burial will follow at 11:15 AM at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemoryGardensFuneralHome.com for the Benavides family.