Pragedis Samudio

Weslaco-Pragedis Ochoa Samudio peacefully and serenely passed away on Thursday, 16 May 2019, with family by her side. Mrs. Samudio was a beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Great Great Grandmother. She was very well known in the community of Weslaco, and surrounding areas, for her craft as a seamstress. Mrs. Samudio had many loyal customers some of whom became close, lifelong friends of hers. As her grandson once said, "When people would find out I was her grandson they would immediately tell me about what a wonderful lady she was...people really, really loved and cared for her". Mrs. Samudio loved her family more than any words could describe. Her favorite three words were "I love you", and she used them generously. Her grandson described one Easter in 1979 when all of the family was gathered at their farm, "...I remember seeing how happy grandpa and grandma were...just staring at them for a moment and thinking to myself that having everybody together was the single thing that made them the happiest...a really special memory". She frequently spoke of what a wonderful and loving lady her mother and grandmother were, and spoke very fondly of memories of her eight brothers and sisters. She would also talk about the family she had on her Husband's side, how wonderful they were, and how they always looked out for her when her husband was away at war. If you knew her, she loved you unconditionally. Mrs. Samudio was born Maria Pragedis Ochoa Arredondo to Eleodoro Ochoa De Leon and Felicitas Arredondo Trevino on 21 July 1919 at Hacienda La Escondida in the city of Cadereyta Jimenez, Nuevo León, Mexico. At the age of 12 and after the death of her mother, Mrs. Samudio reared her eight living brothers and sisters whom she loved dearly and unconditionally. At the age of 23, she eloped with the love of her life, Felix Samudio Martinez, and they were married. Her husband, Felix Samudio served as a rifleman in the 8th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army, during World War II. Her grandson recalls, "She once showed me a telegram that she received from the government informing her that grandpa was missing in action...my heart sank for her". Mr. Samudio returned home with physical wounds and emotional trauma sustained from fighting 9 long terrifying months on the front lines of the war. Through the roughest and most trying of circumstances, Mrs. Samudio remained a loyal, dedicated and loving wife. Mrs. Samudio is the mother of five children - Phylis, Felix, Maria, Elena, and Roberto. She has eleven grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She is preceded into heaven by her husband Felix Samudio. She is also preceded into heaven by her with brothers and sisters - Leopoldo, Leon, Manuel, Francisco, Carlos, Jorge, Maria, Carlotta, Guadalupe, Lucia, and Maria. Mrs. Samudio is a beacon of unconditional love, and an example to us of how hope, kindness, generosity, faith, and empathy pave the road to Heaven