Maria S. Armendariz

Maria Sierra E. de Armendariz, of El Paso, Texas, passed away at her home surrounded by family and friends on Thursday, April 26, 2012. She was born May 31, 1911, in Mexico City. She was preceded in death by her brothers Luis and Carlos Sierra, both of Mexico City. She was a graduate of the “Escuela Normal de Maestros” in Mexico City, where she studied education and fine arts. After marrying her late husband, Joaquin Armendariz, she moved to El Paso, Texas in 1941, when he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, North African and European theaters. She was a homemaker and long-time school volunteer at many local schools, including Vilas, Lamar and Wiggs. She spent her classroom days reading to the children and teaching them about the beauty and honor of their bi-lingual culture. As a result of her extensive service to the El Paso community, she was a recipient of the 2000 “Hidalgo Award”, cosponsored by EPCC and KBNA. Maria Armendariz was a lifelong practicing Catholic, member of the “Union Catolica de San Jose” and the Jesus and Mary Chapel community. Her Mexican Catholic family heritage includes the first native Mexican appointed Cardinal of the Americas, Dr. Juan Cayetano de Portugal and the Mother Superior of the Mexico Sisters of Charity, Refugio Sierra Quevedo, during Presidente Calles’ religious persecution, who exiled her to Argentina. She is survived by her three sons and their wives: Joaquin and Delia Armendariz of Fairfax, CA, Jorge and Margarita Armendariz of El Paso, TX, and Alfredo and Lillian Armendariz of El Paso, TX., 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Funeral services are as follows: Visitation will be held from 5:00-9:00 pm, Friday, May 4, 2012 at Sunset Funeral Home-West with a Vigil 7pm. Funeral Mass at Jesus and Mary Chapel on May 5, 2012 at 11:30am followed by burial at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West. Please visit our online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net