Maria "Nena" Teresa Groh

She was born on July 15, 1934, in Manila, Philippines, to Agapito and Concepcion Del Castillo. Her maternal grandparents were Doña Natividad Corteza and Don Tito Silverio y Baltazar, a former member of the Philippine House of Representatives. She was the third of four children, and grew up in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, where her family owned agricultural land and had deep roots in the sugarcane industry.

In 1964, Maria embarked on a round-the-world tour and chose to take an extended stay in one of her favorite cities—Madrid, Spain. There, she worked as an accountant and translator for a local car dealership. It was in Madrid where she met her future husband, then U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class James Groh, who was stationed nearby at Torrejón Air Base and happened to be shopping for a new car. They married in Madrid in August 1966 and raised four children: Theresa, Anthony, Gabriela, and Daniel. As a military family, Maria and the children accompanied Jim on assignments to Michigan, Arizona, Thailand, and the Philippines before settling in San Antonio, Texas, in 1979.

Maria earned a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of the East (Philippines) and later became a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Texas. She also served as an auditor for Bexar County, where she was known for her integrity and professionalism.

She was admired for her warmth, sharp wit, and deep Catholic faith. Maria loved traveling, dancing, Zumba, reading novels, watching telenovelas, dining out, and playing Mahjong late into the night with her many friends. She had a generous heart and often donated to those in need.

Maria is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, James Groh; her children: Theresa (David) Dockwiller, Anthony Groh, Gabriela (John) Sipe, and Daniel (Zuzana) Groh; her grandchildren: Alexander Dockwiller, Ireland (Dyllan) Morgan, Zoe Sipe, Dylan Sipe, Ella Sipe, Michael Groh, and Ana Groh; and her great-grandson, Walker Morgan. She was also a beloved aunt to Marianne Del Castillo, Manuel Del Castillo Jr., Cristina Del Castillo Anyong, Katrina Del Castillo, and the late Omar Del Castillo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Agapito and Concepcion Del Castillo; her brothers, Jose, Jesus, and Manuel Del Castillo.

A wake will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera Rd, San Antonio, TX. Eulogies and remembrances will be shared during the wake.

A funeral mass will take place on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 13715 Riggs Rd, Helotes, TX. Visitation begins at 10:00 AM, with the Rosary at 10:30 AM. A reception will follow immediately in the church banquet hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the following causes in Maria’s memory:

Dress for Success - https://www.dfssanantonio.org/donate

American Brain Tumor Association - https://give.abta.org/give/261975/#!/donation/checkout

Archbishop’s Appeal for Ministries - https://archsa.org/aafm_giveasa/