Maria De Jesus Hernandez Mendoza

Maria Mendoza, 88. Our beloved Spouse and Daughter passed away on March 2, 2025. 

Maria enjoyed traveling to rural parts of Mexico, exploring and expanding her knowledge of the regions. She was a social butterfly, had lots of friends and acquaintances to share her life stories with, and enjoyed mingling. Maria's passion was dancing! She would dance anywhere. Even when music was barely audible from a distance she would start shaking those shoulders.

Maria beat and survived breast cancer in 2010. While enduring surgery and treatments (feeling weak and generally awful) she would still dress up, put on her lipstick and long dangling earrings to her doctor's visits. This was her way of expressing respect and appreciation. Maria derived her strength and passion from her family. She always strived to be the best that she could be, making the most of what she had, and demonstrating this by example for her family. She held high standards for all of us. Her commitment and devotion for her children was demonstrated through personal sacrafice, hard work, and vision, establishing an enduring legacy for her loved ones. Maria is survived by eight grandkids, five great-grandkids with one more on the way, three great-great-grandkids.

Maria was a person of character, grit, and strength. She was born into humble and tough beginnings, and yet from those humble beginning had a fire in her belly, tenacity, and an iron will. She was uncompromising in her goals, and ultimately achieved her dreams. The beauty of everything that Maria had accomplished is that she remained loving, selfishness, and hopeful to the end.

People like Mary cannot be made through things like education, or training. She had a gift, and she never squandered it.