Celia A. Barrera

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of nearly 50 years, Alfredo Barrera, her parents, Manuel Alcaraz, Sr. and Antonia Alcaraz; sister, Ernestina Alvarado; brothers, Manuel Jr., Concepcion, and Pascual Alcaraz.

She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Cuellar, her beloved son-in-law, Frank Cuellar and many nieces, nephews and loved ones.

My mother was loving, resilient, faithful, generous, and endlessly supportive. The role of a mother is to nurture her children. She is to make sure they know they are loved and that she is there for them for anything. In every instance and during every single life encounter with my Mom, I knew this of her…I felt this of her. In the Bible it is described that a mother is fundamentally a woman who brings forth life and serves as a binding agent for the family, nurturing, guiding, and teaching her children to know and fear the Lord. This was my Mother, Mi Tesoro de Madre. They say that a good mother encourages and accepts her children as they are. My mother did exactly that. Regardless of what I every said or did, my Mom would always receive me with a smile that would light up any room, an embrace that would make me forget any heartache and a touch that solved any problem I had. She was love and her love will always live within me.

Linda Ellis writes in her poem titled, “The Dash”, for that dash represents all the time that they have spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth. For it matters not, how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash. My Mom spent her “dash” loving so hard. She was a God-fearing loving, loyal Mother and Wife. She learned this from my maternal abuelos, Senor y Senora Manuel Alcaraz Sr. My grandparents were people of family and faith. My Mom shared with me that from an early age, my grandparents had my Tios and her praying the rosary very early each morning. My Mom also inherited from my grandparents a profound sense of work ethic and loyalty-from my Grandmother Antonia a devoted Guadalupana and active parish member and from my Grandpa Manuel a devoted railroad worker who provided for his family of five. My Mom was the youngest of five and she later also helped my grandparents with the upbringing of her nephews. She was the last surviving of my grandparents' five children. She is the end of a family generation for us, but we know because of how she led her life with such reverence for the Lord, He welcomed her with open arms as she took her last breath on earth. Mom is now reunited with her parents, her beloved siblings and the love of her life, My Dad. Ellis’ poem goes on to say “so when your eulogy is being read with your life’s actions to rehash…would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?” I know without any doubt that my Mom lived out her dash with love, integrity, compassion and most importantly with our Lord in the center of it all.

She was always so gentle and patient with me. I looked forward to our daily visits. I remember telling Frank this week since her passing I miss the way she would look at me, the smile on her face, the way she would light up, the way she would welcome me, the way she would welcome us over for a visit when my Dad was with us still and they would make us dinner for some occasion. In all she did, she showed us nothing but pure love and joy. I remember so many of our recent conversations now and she would ask me “mija porque haces todo por mi, why do you do everything for me now”. Le respondi, “ayy Mami como no te voy hacer todo si tu tambien ya has echo todo por mi?” Mami, your strength, warmth and endless love have shaped me into the person I am today. You showed me how to be a good, loving human. I always say to others that anything good of me I inherited from My Mom. During her entire life, she had an endless faith in our Lord and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Regardless of the challenge, my Mom was a warrior. Ella fue una verdadera guerrera. Sin faltar, mi Mami diariamente oraba sus oraciones y rezaba su rosario. If you’re here today, you were someone she knew and loved. Please know that she very likely at one point prayed a rosary mystery for you too. I can still vividly see her sitting in that olive green little couch in her bedroom then saying her prayers. She never once wavered in her faith. I can personally share with you that I was blessed to be holding her hand as she took her last breath on this earth and my Mama had this peaceful look as she left this earth. Her work here was done and as my dear friend said, her room in heaven was ready.

My Mom was an endlessly loving mother, an incredibly devoted spouse, obedient daughter, loving Sister, Aunt, Godmother, Comadre, un suegra inolvidable and a God fearing, faithful daughter of Christ. Mi Tesoro de Madre-Tu Fuiste mi fuerza cuando Fui debil; tu fuiste mi voz cuando no pude hablar; tu fuiste los ojos que me ayudaron a ver…Tu viste lo mejor que hubo en mi y me diste la fe porque tu creiste en mi. Soy todo lo que soy porque me amaste. Tu eres todo para mi. I didn’t grow up with much. We were of very humble means. Growing up, I always wished we had more..that I could too wear the famous name designer brands. As most teenagers, I would often get embarrassed of not having those name brands. Instead I wore imitation clothing Mom and I would either pick up at Solo Serve, Kmart, or Weiners. What I didn’t truly appreciate then were the hours my Mom worked as a home care provider to earn that money to buy me those very items. I shared with Frank recently, you know my Mom was so selfless and supportive when I was in school. During my years of attending high school and later college, Mom always had a warm freshly cooked meal waiting for me when I arrived home after a long day at school, then work. I never worried about my laundry. She would just tell me, ayyy mija que bueno que llegaste. Ya te tengo tu comida para que cenes y te pongas a estudiar. She would see my light on during the night as I was studying or typing a paper and pop in to give me a kiss and say how proud she was of me. I crossed that stage very much because of the love and support she gave me.

In her life my Mom had two great true loves, myself and my Dad. On one sunny afternoon amidst the music at a festival at Mission County Park, my Dad spotted my Mom across the dance floor(la pista as they called it back then) and asked her to dance. From that moment on they became dance partners and would continue to dance the dance of life until my Dad

as most of you know also left us to be with the Lord 1 year ago. Up until his own health issues and passing, Mom and Dad shared 49 years of marriage. I know they are together now and dancing in heaven. Mom, like Dad was an amazing dancer. She followed his steps so well and so many of us here today I’m sure have a beautiful memory of them dancing together at a family wedding, quinceneara, family party or even in their own living room.

My Mom’s passing although sudden and shocking to us reminds us how fragile life is. One day we are here loving each other and the next day we’re saying our final goodbyes. Losing her life partner, my Dad last year was heartbreaking for her but gosh almighty she navigated it all with such grace. This last year Frank and I had the true privilege and honor of being Mom’s caregivers. We are immensely grateful for the ability to have had the ability to care for her. We made this year about her and were so blessed to make so many more memories with her. I visited with her daily and gosh we made so many memories. I was able to learn so much more from her. I’m eternally grateful to our Lord for blessing me with this year with her. Frank and I did not do this alone though. We had such an amazing support system beginning with her entire care team at the Rio at Mission Trails and later Touchstone Hospice. Additionally, we had so many family members popping in to visit with her. Thank you to all of you who helped us during this journey. Thank you also to both of our jobs, Beyond Faith Homecare and Cardinal Hospice who allowed us the time to be present for Mom when she needed us most. We both work in healthcare and live in this world seeing patients and their families experiencing this similar journey, but it all becomes so real when it’s your own loved one who’s condition is declining requiring more care. Please know that your patience, love, visits, calls, flowers, small gifts to her brought her so much joy. She felt so incredibly special. You honor us with your love for her and for us. Mi Tesoro de Madre, today we gather here to celebrate you and the incredible woman you were. You were beautiful both inside and out. Your classiness and style live within us. Each time I walk out the door without lipstick I’ll remember you asking me, mija porque no traes lipstick puesto? I will miss seeing you in your beautiful bright colors, your pretty white skirt and your matching shoes and purse. You left the biggest imprint on my heart Mami. I promise to love and honor you for the rest of my days until we sing together again. I’ll miss you in my passenger seat singing Ramon Ayala and George Strait songs with me. I’ll miss eating ice cream cones with you. I’ll miss sitting next to you during mass and hearing your beautiful voice reciting our prayers and singing the church hymns. I’ll miss you loving me Mami. Being your daughter was the honor of a lifetime. Until we meet again.

Beloved Family & Friends I leave you with this that I recently read-

My Endless Love: “There won’t always be a next time, so I hope you appreciate what’s in front of you while it’s still here. People get tired. Moments pass. Doors close quietly, and when they do, no amount of “I should’ve” will bring them back.

Not everything waits for you to come around. Some things only show up once and if you’re too busy, too unsure or too careless you’ll miss it. Because one day, you’ll look back and realize the ‘next time’ you kept counting on never came.”

Love and honor your parents. Celebrate each birthday, holiday and whatever else they want to celebrate. We truly do not know which one will be their last celebration with us. Happy Heavenly Birthday and Anniversary to both of my parents. October is the month we always celebrated them both. Love you Mom, give Dad a kiss for me. You both will always live within me.

The Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2025 at Funeraria Del Angel Trevino, 226 Cupples Rd., San Antonio,TX 78237 followed by a Mariachi Serenata at 6:30 p.m. and a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m.

The Procession will depart from the funeral home on Friday, October 3, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. for a 10:00 a.m. Mass of The Resurrection at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, 1321 El Paso St., San Antonio, TX 78207.

Services will conclude at the church.

Fond memories and condolences may be shared at www.funerariadelangelcupples.com