Matilda Szymczak Salinas

Matilda “Tillie” Szymczak Salinas of Houston, Texas, passed away on March 18, 2026, at the age of 82—though she would have gently (and firmly) insisted she was much younger. A devoted mother, grandmother, nurse, and storyteller, Tillie lived a life marked by compassion, humor, and unwavering love for her family.

She was born Matilda Szymczak on November 1, 1943, in Anderson, Texas, to Harold and Verna Szymczak. From an early age, she made it clear that “Matilda” simply would not do—she was Tillie, and anyone who hoped to get her attention quickly learned to call her just that. Her childhood was filled with adventure and imagination, with fond memories of chasing cows, climbing trees, and escaping into the pages of a good book.

Tillie graduated from St. Pius X High School and went on to pursue her calling in nursing at the Lilly Jolly School of Nursing in 1960. She dedicated her career to caring for others, serving as a Registered Nurse in several Houston-area hospitals, including Memorial Healthcare System and St. Luke’s. Her work reflected deep compassion, resilience, and a steady presence in moments when it mattered most.

While working in the emergency room at Memorial Northwest Hospital, Tillie met Edwin “Bruce” Salinas. Their courtship was filled with laughter, including the now-famous moment when Tillie discovered that Bruce’s offer of “Cold Duck” referred to wine—not poultry. They were married in Richmond, Texas, beginning a partnership built on humor, love, and a shared devotion to family.

Tillie’s greatest joy was her family. She was a constant and loving presence in the lives of her children, Wynette and Ryan Salinas, never missing a dance recital, school event, or swim meet—even after long overnight shifts at the hospital. Becoming a mother was the defining joy of her life, and she poured her heart into every moment with her children and, later, her grandchildren.

Family vacations became treasured stories—none more legendary than the “National Lampoon-style” trip to the Grand Canyon, complete with unexpected adventures involving killer bees, three-legged dogs, and a twin-engine Cessna that Tillie wisely decided never to board again. These moments, filled with laughter and resilience, captured the spirit with which she lived her life.

Tillie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Edwin “Bruce” Salinas. She is survived by her sister Rita and her daughter Wynnette and grandchildren Jacob and Hannah, and her son Ryan, his wife Sharon and grandson Lincoln and many extended family members and friends who will remember her kindness, strength, wit, and deep devotion.

Her legacy is one of love, laughter, and quiet strength—a life well lived and deeply felt by all who knew her.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079 with visitation beginning at 11:30 AM and the ceremony beginning at 1 PM, with interment to follow.