Dora Carrillo

MERCEDES - Dora Carrillo, 70, passed away at McAllen Medical Center on Sunday, May 21, 2023. Dora was born in Linares Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on February 25, 1953, to Santos Lugo and Maria Del Carmen Espitia Lugo. She moved to Nuevo Progreso as a teenager and spent many summers migrating North to work. Dora met her soulmate, Benito Carrillo while living in Nuevo Progreso. They were married within six months and spent the next fifty-one years together. 

Dora and Benito built their home in Weslaco, where they raised five children together. Benito worked in construction and treated Dora like his queen. Dora was a great homemaker. She was a great cook and always had a hot meal ready for the family. Some favorites were mole, enchiladas, cabrito, carne guisada, homemade tamales, and freshly baked cookies. Since Dora spent so much time in the kitchen, she had her loving and capable husband remodel it several times. Every time Dora wanted something transformed, Benito gladly obliged. 

Dora was a hard worker, working in her garden, caring for her roses, and tending to the many animals the Carrillo family had. Dora also loved to dance and sing. She had a favorite song she would sing for Benito, “Esos tus Ojos.” 

Dora was a loving wife and mother. She and Benito lovingly called each other “Duvalin,” which is a sweet candy. Dora and Benito also often said to one another, “No lo cambio por nada,” “I wouldn’t change a thing.” However, she had more love to give. She was known as a favorite aunt to many of her nieces and nephews and attended as many of their events as possible. She was also the best grandmother and great-grandmother her family could ask for. Dora had a heart of gold, full of compassion for others. She would also light up a room with her fun personality and beautiful smile. 

Dora is preceded in death by her parents, Santos and Maria Del Carmen Espitia Lugo, brother Jaime Lugo, nephews Jose Guadalupe Lugo, Arnoldo Salinas, and Baldemar Hernandez Jr. 

She is survived by her loving husband, Benito Carrillo Sr., children, Veronica Martinez (Freddy) of San Benito, Erica Palomo (Gabriel), Monica Carrillo, Angelica Gomez (Jesus), all of Weslaco, and Benito Carrillo Jr. (Sylvia) of Mercedes, brothers, Jose Santos Lugo (Maria), Telesforo “Foro” Lugo, Hugo Lugo (Aminta), sister, Maria Liduvina Villarreal (Noe), and Rosa Lugo, grandchildren, Mark Anthony Zuniga (Alejandra), Katalina Martinez, Freddy Martinez Jr. (Mayra), Alondra Martinez, Gabrielle C. Palomo, Gabriel Palomo Jr., Alma Palomo, Analisa Palomo, Rumaldo Lozano Jr., Larissa Lozano, Juan Lozano, Jesus Gomez, Hailey Gomez, Gael Gomez, Oscar Marin, Lily Carrillo, Benito Carrillo III, April Carrillo, great-grandchildren, Mia Isabela, Eli Anthony, David, and Saul Zuniga, Kattalia Rodriguez, and Ximena Martinez, numerous nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will be Wednesday, May 24, and Thursday, May 25, 2023, 10 am-9 pm, with a rosary at 6 pm. Mass will be held on Friday, May 26, at 10 am, at St. Pius X, Catholic Church in Weslaco. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Park.