Mary Reyes Rodriguez Aguilar, 100 years old, of Natalia, Texas, went to be with the Lord on July, 20, 2021. She was born on April 7, 1921, in San Antonio, Texas to Jose E. Rodriguez, a trucker, and Sabas Garcia Rodriguez, a homemaker. Her parents later owned and managed a small corner store, Sweet Pea, on Mission Road. Mary was the oldest living sibling of 11. She had an older brother, Jose, who died of diphtheria at the age of 4. Mary graduated from the 8th grade and then went to work in a sewing factory to help support her family. In time she worked with a seamstress, Mrs. Anderson, where she learned tailoring skills. She would go on to sew and tailor beautiful clothes for her family.
She married the love of her life, Alfred Aguilar, on November 15, 1942, and lived in San Antonio until 1957. They had five children, Alfred, Donald, George, Elizabeth Ann, and Annette Marie. In 1957, they moved the family 35 miles southwest of San Antonio to a farming community. Mary always said she was just a city girl, but she learned to garden, milk cows, and raise chickens. She learned to grow vegetables and then canned and froze them for the benefit of her family. For a few years, she even managed an egg business. She often volunteered at school events, especially in the concession stand at home football games, and donated many baked goods. After her husband passed away on February 21, 1974, she remained on the farm for the rest of her life and cared for the property including mowing the acre of yard around her house well into her 80s. She was recruited to work in the Natalia Independent School District cafeteria, helping to prepare meals for the school children for about 25 years. After retirement, she continued to care for her family including her grandchildren.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Alfred; her parents, Jose E. and Sabas Rodriguez; her sister, Suzie (Johnnie) Paniagua; her brothers Philip (Lupe) Rodriguez, Joe (Eva) Rodriguez; Santos (Sulema) Rodriguez; and Manuel (Bertha) Rodriguez; and her son, George (Laurel).
Mary is survived by sisters, Bertha (Tom) Acosta and Beatrice (Robert) Lozano and her brothers Nicholas Rodriguez; Edward (Florinda) Rodriguez; and Robert (Helen) Rodriguez; her sons, Alfred (Debbie) and Donald (Yvonne) and her daughters, Elizabeth (Felipe) and Annette. She is also survived by her grandchildren, George Robert Aguilar (Jana); Joyce Annette Aguilar; Matthew (Denise) Aguilar; Anna Aguilar; Michael (Kim) Aguilar; Maria Laura Garza Soliz; Felipe Edward Garza; Belinda Dianne Garza (David Adams); Nathan (Emily) Pullin; James Alfred Garza; Eric (Virginia) Cyrene; Jeremy Aguilar; Jennifer Aguilar; Jessica Aguilar; and Lily Aguilar; her great grandchildren, Jacob Trowbridge; Emma Trowbridge; Matthew Aguilar, Jr.; Rachel Aguilar; Nicholas Aguilar; Tyler Lily Soliz; Julia Annette Adams; Damian Noah Adams; Joshua Pullin; Gabby Pullin; Elijah Cyrene; Ethan Cyrene; Ezekiel Cyrene; George Atlas Aguilar; and her great-great-grandchild, Titus Trowbridge. Special recognition to Mary’s friend and caregiver, Juanita (Nita) McKay, for her faithful, kind, and generous help the last 6 years of her life.
The family would like to extend thanks to all the family who came to visit, especially the last year of her life.
Visitation was held on Friday, July 23, 2021, 2:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. with a Rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. Hurley Funeral Home Chapel Lytle, Texas. Mass was celebrated Saturday, July 24, 2021, 10:00 A.M. Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church LaCoste, Texas. Interment will be held Thursday, August 5, 2021, 2:00 P.M. Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery San Antonio, Texas.
Anyone wishing to leave condolences, share memories, or sign the guestbook may do so at www.hurleyfuneralhome.com Arrangements are under the direction of Hurley Funeral Home, 14822 Main Street, Lytle, Texas 78052, (830) 709-0698.