Freer – Maria Consuelo Valadez Cantu left this world on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, and is now crossing the heavens looking for her beloved husband, Ramiro Cantu Sr. Consuelo was born on, March 1, 1932, in La Bandera and walked with us an incredible 89 years. She was the first daughter of seven children to, Rafael and Josefa Valadez, where she was raised on the family farm in La Bandera Community, in the midst of the Great Depression.
She married, Ramiro Cantu Sr., and they became inseparable. Consuelo and Ramiro lived in Freer, Texas, where they raised their seven children. She poured her heart and soul to being a loving mother, devoted wife, doting grandmother and great friend to many. Most importantly, she was the heart of her family, and her children were her life. Consuelo always encouraged her children to get the best education possible, as she went only up to 10th grade due to her family needing help on the farm.
She was known to have a strong spiritual faith and relationship with the Lord. She touched so many lives and made it a point to make all those she encountered feel important and special. She genuinely cared for others, and she will be immensely treasured by all. Consuelo had a green thumb and loved plants, enjoyed working in her yard, dancing, cleaning, listening to mariachis and helping people in any way she could.
Many looked at her as their own mother. She treated everyone like family. She touched so many lives with her magnetic personality, positive outlook on life, fun sense of humor, out-going and high energetic spirit. People were drawn to be around her, and she had countless friendships and close relationships. Consuelo never lost her child-like spirit and love for life. Those of us blessed to be a part of her life will forever have an imprint she left in our hearts.
Being a strong woman, after countless trials and tribulations in life, she grew stronger and stronger and more resistant to her battle with her disease. She battled her illness with the most amazing grace, bravery and strength. Consuelo was insistent to be independent until the very end. She lived everyday with positivity and determination, to live in her own home and not allow her ageing body to keep her from doing the things she loved. She will be forever loved, forever missed and forever in our hearts.
She was preceded in death by her husband; Ramiro Cantu Sr., U.S. Veteran, reaching rare heights of 56 years where they shared love, laughter and tears, until his death, a son, Ramiro Cantu Jr., two granddaughters; Cindy and Karen Flood, two great grandsons; Ethan Esquival and Baby Cantu.
Consuelo is survived by her children, Hector Roel (Alma) Cantu, Thelma (Tom) Flood, Norma (Alonzo) Garza, Patricia (Gary) Kelly, Brenda Dees and Omar (Irasema) Cantu; 17 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; her six brothers and sisters; numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. till service time; Rosary at 1:00 p.m. and Funeral Service to follow on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Garza Funeral Home in San Diego, Texas. Interment will follow at Valadez Cemetery in La Bandera Community, Texas.
The family request in lieu of flower donation can be made to American Liver Foundation (ALF) at liverfoundation.org, P.O. Box 299 West Orange, NJ 07052.
Anyone wishing to leave condolences for the family may do so at www.garzafuneralhome.com
Arrangements entrusted to Garza Funeral Home, San Diego, Texas 361-279-3311.
