Filomena Benavides Paez passed away peacefully at the glorious age of 90 in the comfort of her home with her beloved family by her side. She was born on November 15, 1932, in La Parrita Ranch Community to Anselmo Benavides Sr. and Celia Guerra (Benavides) Trevino. She was a beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, friend, and a believer in the Catholic faith. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, traveling, gambling at Kickapoo, and spending time with her loving family and friends. Her passion in the kitchen included baking pan de polvo, bu{n~}uelos, tamales, empanadas, and many other delicacies. As a young woman she moved to Alice, Texas where she later met the love of her life of 54-years, Samuel Nieto Paez Sr., and together they raised three wonderful children. As a couple, they enjoyed dancing and entertaining friends and family. She worked at Stock’s Cleaners for over 30 years, and an additional 27 years at Alice Independent School District where she retired from at the young age of 82. She was a former member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, and a past member of the Guadalupanas. She is preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Nieto Paez Sr.; her parents, Anselmo Benavides Sr. and Celia Guerra (Benavides) Trevino; sisters, Santos Benavides, Delia Gonzalez, Otilia Rodriguez, Berta Montemayor, and Loretta Hinojosa; brothers, Felix Guerra Sr., Anselmo Benavides Jr.; and her stepfather Everardo Trevino. Survivors include sons, Samuel (Brenda) Paez of Alice, Texas; David (Sylvia) Paez Sr. of Laredo, Texas; and daughter, Sandra Paez of Mission, Texas. Seven grandchildren, Stephanie (Michael) Macias, Samantha (Jason) Rakowitz, Yvonne (Mario) Martinez, Samuel (Carolina) Paez III, David (Sharlyn) Paez Jr., Aaron Joseph Abrigo, and Amber Riley LeBoeuf. Fourteen great-grandchildren, Steven Paez Macias, Hugo Andres Garcia, Zachary Aiden Paez, Lorriana Sue Paez, J’lyssa Rae Ramirez, Kinzie Marie Rakowitz, Haylee Marie Paez, Kyndall Rose Rakowitz, Lily Anne Macias, Jude Michael Martinez, Sadie Jo Paez, David Alejandro Paez, Samuel Paez IV, and Lucas Alexander Macias. A special thanks to everyone for your many thoughts, prayers, and sentiments. Special thanks to Cynthia Flores for the special care of our beloved mother during her time of need. Thank you to Dalia Aguilar for the friendship of over 30 years that she shared with our beautiful mother. Thank you to Florentino (Sonny) Benavides Jr. for the many breakfast visits he shared reminiscing about the old days. Family received friends and relatives at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2023, at Rosas Funeral Home. A Holy Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. that evening. Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. A burial followed at the Alice Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Samuel Paez III, David Paez Jr., Aaron Joseph Abrigo, Steven Paez Macias, Hugo Andres Garcia, and Zachary Aiden Paez.
