An open viewing for Rose Marie's family and friends will be held at Funeraria del Angel Roy Akers, 515 N. Main Ave, San Antonio, Texas 78205 on Thursday, August 18th, 2022 from 5pm to 9pm, followed by a Catholic Rosary/Vigil Prayer Service at 7pm.
The funeral mass will begin at 10am, Friday August 19th 2022, at St. Leo's The Great, 4415 S. Flores St., San Antonio TX 78214 with a burial service to follow at San Jose Burial Park located at 8235 Mission Rd., San Antonio TX 78214. The vehicle procession will happen immediately following the mass, the route will be from the church through her childhood neighborhood and ending at the cemetery.
Rose Marie "Rose Mary" was born in San Antonio to Mr. Raul J. Sr. & Mary R. Sanchez on September 22nd 1957. She went to St. Leo's catholic school and transferred to Morrill Elementary School. She attended middle school and high school at Harlandale and graduated in 1975. In her senior year in high school she was crowned Football Sweetheart and she was a four year member of the Indianettes Drill and Dance Team.
She married Benjamin Padilla Mendoza Jr. on May 29th 1976 at St. Leo's Catholic Church and moved to Wichita Falls, TX because Ben joined the United States Air Force. They then moved to their next duty station located at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. While in Colorado she studied and graduated from Pike's Peak Community College with an Associate Degree of Applied Science in 1981.
She served, in various roles within the United States government, as a dedicated civil servant for over 32 years. The first job of her government career was at Kelly Air Force Base with later roles at NASA in Houston, TX and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Fort Worth, TX.
She shared a passion for being outdoors with her family, tending to her plants and flowers, as well as baking/cooking for her family. She devoted herself to her spouse, son(s), and grandchildren with whom she shared many wonderful memories.
She valiantly fought her battle with cancer over a 16 year period with an exceptional amount of courage and strength rooted in deep spiritual faith and supported by many family and friends - she will be greatly missed and fondly remembered!
Rose Marie is preceded in death by her sister Rachel S. Cortez (2002).
She was the loving wife to Benjamin P. Mendoza Jr (46 years), the adoring mother to Benjamin S. III and wife Cindy Mendoza and son Michael Mendoza, survived by brother(s) Raul Jr. and Orie and Robert and Rosalinda, parents Raul Sr. and Mary Sanchez, and her pride and joy grandchildren; granddaughter Anastasia Mendoza, grandson Benjamin R. Mendoza IV, and granddaughter Isabella Mendoza. She is also survived by a number of aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, classmates, colleagues, and friends with whom she shared a wonderful life.
Flowers may be sent to Funeraria del Angel Roy Akers. If you prefer to donate to a charitable cause rather than send flowers please make a donation to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center through their online donation form.
The family of Rose Marie wishes to extend our sincere thanks to all who have sent messages of support, flowers, and other kind gestures over the last few weeks - she read and looked at them all.
Finally her family offers sincere gratitude to the medical doctors, nurses, and staff who cared for her over the years - thank you for your service
Pallbearer(s)
Benjamin R. Mendoza IV (grandson)
Steven Sanchez (Nephew)
Jacob Sanchez (Nephew)
Stephen Gonzalez (Nephew / godson)
Felix Dominguez (Nephew)
Matthew Dominguez (Nephew)
Riley Hyatt (fiance to granddaughter Anastasia)
