Rosaelia R. Benavides

Rosaelia R. Benavides, 71, of San Antonio, TX went to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 31, 2020. She was born on December 27, 1949 in Cloete, Coahuila Mexico. She was the second born of five children of Jesus V. and Consuelo Rodriguez.

Rosaelia’s younger years were spent in Cloete. Later the family moved to Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Rosaelia grew to become a beautiful young lady and met a young man, Elpidio Gongora, who later would become her husband. Before the relationship could flourish, her family moved to San Antonio, Texas.

She started a long distance relationship with Elpidio Gongora, who she would marry two years later on April 20, 1968. They moved to Illinois where she gave birth a year later to their first child Elpidio Jr. and moved back to Texas shortly thereafter where they lived in San Antonio and Houston for some time and had 3 children, Rosie, Anna and Cipriano. They finally settled in the Rio Grande Valley where they had their last child, Jesus.

She was a loving housewife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She went through many losses in life, from the death of her husband in 1991 and later losing both parents and two siblings, but her faith kept her strong.

Throughout her life she was a strong woman, and she taught her children to live life to the fullest. Rosaelia enjoyed life, loved her family and her friends. Her enormous faith in God was her strength. She lived to take care of her children and grandchildren and would go out of her way and to make sure her family and friends were taken care of, while sacrificing her own needs.

While living in San Antonio she met Frank Benavides, who would become her second husband. They enjoyed many activities together such as dancing, playing Bingo, a daily favorite. Sadly her second husband passed away on November 16, 2020.

She loved cooking, watching Mexican novelas, dancing, entertaining and laughing at a good joke. Rosaelia will always be remembered as a devoted, wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Even when times were tough she always wore a smile, never complained and always viewed life with a positive attitude. Her young spirit was loved by many who knew her and amazingly by those who just crossed her path.

The Lord decided that it was time for her to go home and join her loved ones in Heaven. We lost a beautiful woman that will be missed forever and God now has his brightest star with Him.

She is survived by her children: Elpidio Gongora, Rosie Martinez, Anna Hammad, Cipriano Gongora and Jesus Gongora. As well as her 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7