Maria Vela

Weslaco-Maria L Vela, 82, passed away on Tuesday, December 11th, 2018 at Harlingen Medical Center. Maria was born on May 11, 1936, to Jesus Lozano and Maria de la Luz Martinez in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Unfortunately, Maria's mom passed away during her birth. Maria worked very hard caring for herself and helping with her siblings. She had a solid work ethic and was not afraid of much. She learned to persevere thru the death of her mom, and it served her well when she became an adult. She met the love of her life, Jose Vela when she was a young adult and they were married in 1959. They moved to Chicago where Maria spent the next twenty years working for General Motors. Maria and Jose raised two sons together and after her retirement, moved to Weslaco, where they spent the rest of their lives. Many will remember Maria from her gardening. She spent a lot of time in her yard, caring for her plants and keeping her yard beautiful. Maria was an advocate of education and instilled the importance of education in her kids at a very young age. They both graduated from the University of Notre Dame and Jose Jr. continued to graduate from the University of Michigan Law, and made mom and dad proud. She also spent time volunteering at Alta Vista, helping educate the less fortunate. She helped fundraise for St. Jude and this organization was always very special to her. Maria was also a great cook and loved her time with family. Maria will mostly be remembered by her drive and determination. She was ahead of her time as a woman and spent most of her career working with men, and they had a hard time keeping up with her. She worked full time while raising her children and still managed to make sure they received a good education. Maria is preceded in death by her parents, Jesus and Maria Lozano and her loving husband, Jose Sr., of nearly fifty years, brother, Fidel Lozano, and sister, Concepcion Lozano. She is survived by her sons, Jose Vela (Gladys) of Houston and George Vela of Weslaco, grand-daughters, Ana Victoria Vela, Melissa Vela, and Emily Vela, brothers, Marcus Lozano, and Rojelio Lozano. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 14th, from 3-9pm, with a rosary at 7:30 pm. Mass will be held on Saturday, December 15th, 2:30pm, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Weslaco. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Park.