Lupe Corpus

Maria Guadalupe “Lupe” Mendez Corpus was born in Houston Texas to Ignacio Mendez and Catarina Espinosa on September 1, 1935. She had 8 siblings and was the oldest of the family’s 6 daughters. She spent her childhood in Houston and left school at the age of 12 to help support her family by picking cotton, not a favorite past time. Her father often scolded her for filling her sack half full and never sorting out the many sticks and rocks that would make their way into her bag along with the cotton.

While at a dance with her sisters, she met the love of her life Pedro “Pete” Corpus. She was immediately struck by his dashing good looks and the way he loved to dance. The two started a romance that would lead to a 60-year marriage, 7 beautiful children, 17 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Lupe’s life goal was to be a wonderful wife and mother. The care she showed her family was a testament to her loving and self-sacrificing nature. Lupe would start her days at 4 am preparing breakfast and the many school and work lunches required by her busy family. She loved to cook, and her potato salad, rice, mole, and Thanksgiving dressing were legendary. She would prepare a large pot of any of these dishes at any time. All she needed was a brief mention of how much one of her children loved a dish and it would immediately appear on the table. No one ever left her home hungry!

Lupe always enjoyed a party and truly enjoyed celebrating holidays and special occasions with her large extended family. She especially loved the Christmas season, the traditional New Year’s Eve celebration, complete with fireworks, and the family’s Easter gathering.

Lupe is preceded in death by her parents Ignacio Mendez and Catarina Espinosa Mendez, brothers: Domingo and Francisco “Frank” Mendez, sisters: Ofelia Davila, Adella Arroyo, Mary Villanueva and Rosie Guerra. She is also preceded in death by her daughter Mary Anne Corpus Chacon, and Mary Anne’s son, Carlos Solis. Lupe is survived by her husband Pedro “Pete” Corpus, daughters: Lisa and Rosie Corpus, Connie Carlson and husband Kevin Carlson, sons: Johnny Corpus and wife Carolyn, Paul Corpus and wife Renita, and Pete Corpus. She is also survived by her sister Gloria Mata, brother Ignacio “Nash” Mendez, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren along with her many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

Maria Guadalupe “Lupe” Mendez Corpus’ battle with Alzheimer’s dementia ended on February 8, 2020. She was a truly wonderful, loving, caring and remarkably kind person. A devout Catholic, her strong faith in God allowed her to weather deep tragedy in her life with grace and love.

For those who knew and loved Lupe, the world is not as bright as it once was, but we know her light is now shining in heaven as she looks down upon us.

Visitation and Rosary * will be on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 from 5:00 – 9:00 PM, Rosary 7:00 PM at Brookside Funeral Home 13747 Eastex Freeway Houston, Texas 77039 *(The family requests that attendees wear bright colored clothing as a remembrance of Lupe’s love of celebrations.) Funeral service will be Thursday, February 13, 2020, 10:00 AM at St. James Catholic Church 22800 Aldine Westfield Rd. Spring, Texas 77373. Burial to follow at Brookside Memorial Park 13747 Eastex Freeway Houston, Texas 77039.

Memorial Donations: The Lupus Foundation of America, Attn: Guadalupe “Lupe” Mendez Corpus Memorial, 2121 K Street NW, Suite 20, Washington DC 20037. Online donations: http://support.lupus.org/goto/LupeMendezCorpus The Alzheimer’s Foundation: http://act.alz.org/goto/LupeMendezCorpus