Anastasia T. Vela

Anastasia (Tachita) Trelles Vela, the kindest, strongest, most beautiful, wisest mother you could ever know died peacefully in her home on Saturday, November 9th, 2019. Anastasia was 94 years old. Anastasia was born in Caldwell County, Texas to Jose and Longina Trelles. She married Martin G. Vela on March 6, 1949, in Lockhart, Texas and moved to San Antonio, Texas. Together, Anastasia and Martin had two sons and five daughters.

Asked to describe Anastasia, one invariably would say, faithful, kind, wise, funny, and just a little sarcastic. Her children would tell you that she loved unconditionally. That her door was always open. Her spirit generous and accepting. That she loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with equal adoration.

Most of her life, she worked in San Antonioʼs best Mexican restaurants including La Fogata, Mexican Manhattan, Ninfaʼs, Karamʼs, and the Original Hot Donut Shop. She loved to work. She was an excellent cook both at work and at home. She loved to have her family over for a simple pan dulce and cafe, or a dinner of caldo or chicken mole. She made the best gorditas, flour tortillas, and of course, New Yearʼs Eve bunuelos. When it came to food, Anastasia believed that more is more. She welcomed everyone to her home, and no one left hungry, and more often than not, guests left with a covered plate to take home.

Anastasia loved to garden and browse the local nurseries with her sisters or daughters often buying so many plants they didnʼt fit in the car. She had a green thumb and wherever she dropped seeds, plants blossomed. In its prime, her garden was full of hydrangea, roses, lemon, mint, just about everything you could imagine. She often said, “When you feel down, go outside, water your plants, let the sun shine down on you, and you will feel happy”.

Anastasia loved gambling, whether it was a trip to the casinos in Las Vegas, an evening at a Bingo hall, a scratch-off ticket, or a high-stakes ($20) Friday night game of Loteria with her daughters. She was pretty lucky.

She was a woman of faith who attended Mass every week at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church until she was physically incapable of doing so. Anastasia never let adversity get her down. She was a n eternal optimist who would often say, “le vamos hacer la lucha” during the hard times. She was strong and never gave up even when faced with the daunting task of raising seven children when her husband died in 1978. She was an inspiration to her family and leaves behind a legacy of positivity, perseverance, and unconditional love.

Anastasia is proceeded in death by her parents, Jose and Longina Trelles, her husband, Martin, her brothers, Andres, Gumecindo, Demetrio Trelles, and her sister, Faustina Reyes.

Anastasia is survived by her sisters Mary Gonzales and Mercedes Camacho, her brothers Anastasio Trelles and Natividad Trelles, her children Ernest (Mary) Vela, Raquel Vela, Alicia Vela, Virginia Gonzales, Martin T. Vela, Lucia (Roger) Trejo, Irene (Fernando) Delgado, ten grandchildren, and nine greatgrandchildren.

In closing, we are reminded of of one of her favorite sayings, “Mira, no te apures. Dios es muy lindo. Todo va estar bien”. “Look, do not worry. God is beautiful.

Everything is going to be fine.”

Family will receive friends on Thursday, December 5, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Funeraria del Angel Roy Akers. The Recitation of The Holy Rosary will begin at 7:00 p.m. On Friday, December 6, 2019, the Funeral Procession will depart at 8:30 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. Requiem Mass with interment to follow at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.