Maria Minerva Cerda

La Joya- Maria Minerva Cerda’s 89, left to be with the Good Lord on August 18, 2023 at McAllen Heart Hospital in McAllen, Texas. Our collective hearts are broken and our very souls are filled with much sadness as you are no longer here with us. Tears will continue to be shed but they will eventually give way to smiles as we reminisce of your past days and our precious moments with you. Your love for all of us was endless and your devotion was constant. The feel of your gentle hands when we were sick or your hugs when we would see each other after a long time apart can never be replaced. You are now gone, but thank you for these soft things you left behind. In our homes, in our heads and in our hearts. It has been said that the ones we truly loved in life never actually go away but rather they are unseen and unheard as they continue to walk with us on our own journeys in life. Mom, although you are no longer here with us know that you will be forever loved and missed. Yesterday, today and tomorrow. God, thank you for blessing us with the most beautiful, sweet, wonderful, and caring Mom. You were an Angel here and now our guardian Angel from up above. Mrs. Cerda is preceded by her husband, Benigno Cerda Jr. Parents, Martin Ochoa and Benita Zamora, Son, Jesus M. Cerda and Son in law, Brinkley L Oxford She is survived by her loving children, Javier (Nora) Cerda, Sylvia (+Brinkley) Oxford, Veronica (Fernando) Reyes, Luis (Blanca) Cerda, Juan (Sandra) Cerda, Reynaldo (Alicia) Cerda, Mari (Kevin) Brashear, Nellie (Mario) Betancourt, Rebecca (Dane) Leblanc, Ricardo Cerda, Micheal (Alma) Cerda and Jose “Joey” Cerda She will be greatly missed by her loving 24 adorable grandchildren and 14 great- grandchildren, her sisters; Olympia Lyles, Janie Ochoa, Sofie Najera and Margo Delgado, family and friends. Friends and family will gather for a viewing on Thursday, August 24, 2023 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm with a rosary at 7:00pm at The Lord and I Funeral Home in Peñitas, Texas. Followed by a funeral mass on Friday, August 25, 2023 at 11:30am at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Peñitas, Texas. Interment will follow at 1:00pm at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission, Texas. The arrangements are under the direction of The Lord and I Funeral Home – Peñitas, Texas.

Maria Minerva Cerda

December 15, 1933 - August 18, 2023