Eulalia Marquez Aviles

Born in Corsicana, Eulalia moved to Dallas in 1936. She attended Benito Juarez for two years and was among the first students when St. Mary of Carmel Catholic School opened its doors in 1944. In those early years, she traveled to Michigan and surrounding states during the summers with her immediate and extended family to sharecrop, helping supplement family income—an early reflection of the steady strength, independence, and selfless commitment that would mark her life. To help her family, she began working in the processing center of the Neuhoff plant, and later as an elevator operator at the Southland Hotel.

After meeting the love of her life, Ladislao Aviles, they married in August 1955. In 1959, she was pressed into service by Sister Andrew, principal of St. Mary of Carmel School, beginning a remarkable vocation of faithful dedication that would span a lifetime. She worked at the school for 50 years, most of those years teaching kindergarten, and after retirement she returned again as a tutor for three more years—an enduring testament to her generous spirit and devotion to the children entrusted to her care.

Known throughout the community as Teacher Lala, she earned deep respect through a life of patient instruction, kind-hearted guidance, and steadfast loyalty to her students and school. Many former students remembered her with love and later brought their children and grandchildren to learn under her—an uncommon legacy of compassion and constancy. Teacher Lala was listed in the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers twice during her career. Upon her retirement, she received a Key to the City of Dallas from Council Member Steve Salazar, a former student. In 2005, she was among the first recipients of the Diocese of Dallas Work of Heart Award from The Catholic Foundation. She earned an honorary master’s degree in ESL from SMU. In 2016, the St. Mary of Carmel School Library was dedicated and renamed the “Teacher Lala Library,” honoring her legacy and her committed belief in literacy.

A woman of Christ-centered faith and fearless trust, she carried a deep devotion to praying for the souls in purgatory and to the Infant Jesus of Prague, the Divine Mercy, and the Miraculous Medal. Her lifelong parish home was St. Mary of Carmel Catholic Church—affectionately called her “second home”—where she was an active member of the English Bible Study group and served for many years as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist.

Teacher Lala’s life was also filled with simple joys and steady love of literacy, bowling, crocheting, reading, crossword puzzles, board games, and time spent with her great-grandchildren. In all things, she was beloved—strong-willed yet forgiving, loyal yet generous, and unwaveringly committed to those she loved.

Eulalia was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Ladislao Aviles; her parents, Joe and Elpidia Marquez; granddaughter, Veronica Aviles; her brothers, Primitivo and Jesse Marquez; and her sisters, Mary Marquez, Teresa (Joe) Mayorga, Luz (Tomás) Jasso, and Carmen (Eliu) Escalona.

She is survived by her children Rita DeLeon (Richard), Reynaldo Aviles (the late Maria del Rosario), Raquel Moreno (the late Luis J. Moreno), Patricia Diaz (Edward), and Deborah Adame (Robert); 16 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; brothers, José (Ophelia) Marquez and Richard (Magdalena) Marquez; sisters, Consuelo (“Esther”) Marquez Evans and Margaret Marquez; and sisters-in-law, Rebecca Marquez and Linda Marquez.

Teacher Lala will be remembered with great respect and admiration: as a devoted teacher who led by example, nurtured potential in every student, and offered loving care with patience and kindness. Her nieces and nephews will remember her as a dependable and loving aunt. Her friends—and their children—will remember her as one who offered help in times of need, with a compassionate heart and a steady, faithful presence.

Visitation will be held at Gonzalez Funeral Home, 3050 N STEMMONS FWY, DALLAS, TX 75247, on June 29, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

A Rosary will be prayed at St Mary of Carmel Church, 2900 Vilbig Rd, Dallas, TX 75212, on June 29, 2026, from 7:45 pm to 8:30 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St Mary of Carmel Church, 2900 Vilbig Rd, Dallas, TX 75212, on June 30, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

Interment will follow at Calvary Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, 3235 Lombardy Ln, Dallas, TX 75220, on June 30, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

The family expresses heartfelt gratitude to the Discalced Carmelite Priests of St. Mary of Carmel, especially Fr. Jenaro de la Cruz and Fr. Stephen Sanchez, Fr. Jim Curiel, and the SMC Parish Bible Study group; her close neighbors who looked out for her, especially Tonia Juarez, with whom she formed a special bond; the doctors and nurses @ Methodist Dallas and Methodist Mansfield Hospitals; the caring staffs at Arbrook Plaza and New Century Hospice; and a special thank you to Dr. Rogers Fair and Dr. Sreevalli Pariti, who cared for her with love and dedication for so many years.

From Eulalia’s journal, a prayer for her family:

“Dear Lord, you are the Lord of time and space so I pray for my family through all generations; Those who have lived and those who are yet to be born, and I ask that you touch us and heal us, Lord, in all the ways you know we are in need of healing.”

In lieu of flowers, we are asking for donations to Teacher Lala Library c/o St. Mary of Carmel School, 1716 Singleton Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75212 or donate online at: https://smcschool.org/our-library

(click on support our campaign button)