Merced Tovar Zapata

WESLACO -Merced Tovar Zapata age 90, a lifelong resident of Weslaco went home to the Lord with her family by her side on Friday Aug 29th, 2014. Merced lived a very full life with cooking and working in her flowers. We all enjoyed the wonderful meals she prepared. She also spent numerous hours with her grandchildren, whom she dearly loved. She will be remembered most of all as a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. After entering Valley Grande Manor, she enjoyed playing Chalupa as often as she could. She also had a love of music, we could always hear her singing, especially in the bathroom. Even in her later music, when she heard music, she wanted to dance.

Merced was born September 24, 1923 to the late Sixto and San Juana Castro Tovar, the oldest of three children. Her mother passed when Merced was a very young girl. Her father then married Maria Rodriguez whom joined the family. Merced was united in marriage to Narciso Cerda, due to illness, he passed away at a very young age, leaving Merced with 3 young children, Joe, Francisco “Frank”, and Annie.
She married Eusebio Zapata, to this union, three sons were born. Eusebio and Merced spent 40 years together until his passing in 1998.
Left to mourn her passing are her daughter Annie, who spent years caring for her mother, sons, Francisco (Sandy) Cerda, Javier (Xochitl) Zapata, & Ricardo (Elvira) Zapata. Also four grandchildren, Norma & Javier Jr. Zapata, Sandy Zapata, & Rene Cerda and three great grand-children, sisters in law, Magdalena (Socorro) Tovar, Cora Hernandez, Maricela Gomez, Luz Zapata, and Maria Zapata brother in law, Jimmy Zapata and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded by her parents, husbands Narciso Cerda and Eusebio Zapata, two sons Joe Cerda and Samuel Zapata, brother, Sixto Tovar Jr. and sister Isabel “Chavela” Tovar.
We would like thank Dr. Volpe, the nurses and staff of Valley Grande Manor for their many years of care for our mother. Visitation will be held Sunday, August 31st and Monday, September 2nd with a Rosary @ 7:00 pm and McCaleb Funeral Home. Mass will be held at St. Pius Church in Weslaco @ 10:00am, Tuesday September 2nd, 2014. Interment will be held at Highland Memorial Cemetery immediately following the service.
Arrangements are being handled by McCaleb Funeral Home.