Born December 6, 1926 in San Antonio, Texas passed away January 12, 2021. She was preceded in death by her spouse of 53 years, Jose Armando (Joe) Valdez, her parents Benigno D. Zamora and Juanita R. Zamora, her step siblings Eduardo H. Ochoa and spouse Lucille M. Ochoa, Elisa H. Ochoa and Esther O. Prey.  Survived by her children, Rebecca V. Alvarez and Armando J. Valdez.

After the death of her father, her mother remarried and the family moved to Los Angeles, California where she enjoyed an abundance of culture and life in a vibrant city.  They returned to San Antonio in 1950 where she met her future husband.  She was a beloved mother of two children and a business woman who owned and operated Connie's Beauty Salon on South Presa Street for 26 years.

She believed in public service, and to that extent she spent 25 years as a member of LULAC, Women's Auxiliary of the American GI Forum, The Veterans Outreach Program, SER Jobs for Progress Inc. (CETA) and WICS, Women in Community Service.  In 1972 she volunteered as part of a team with Hillary Rodham Clinton in a voter registration drive on the West Side of San Antonio to register first time Hispanic voters in support of the presidential election.  During her tenure at WICS, which she enjoyed the most, she recruited several hundred disenfranchised young people as students for Job Corps America. The majority of these students graduated with their GED certificate and learned a skilled trade which allowed them to transition to a working life and establish meaningful employment.

In addition, she was a Girl Scout Leader, assisted in Boy Scouts, and was an avid fund raiser for St. Cecilia's Parochial School, Incarnate Word High School and Central Catholic High School.

Every holiday was an opportunity to celebrate the cultural, historical or religious significance of the day, and this knowledge she imparted to her family.

She travelled throughout Texas with her husband for business, and throughout the world with her family.  Her world travel allowed her the opportunity to see, first- hand, what she learned as a young girl in school.  The friendships she made both in her personal and professional life lasted a lifetime. As Aunt Connie, she was loved, respected and appreciated by all of her family.

We will miss her, but we know her spirit lives on and her love and protection are for eternity; we love you Mom, rest in peace.

Funeral Services

Visitation will begin Monday, January 18 at 5:00 P.M. in The Angelus Chapel

with a Rosary to be recited at 6:00 P.M.

Capacity for 75 persons.

Funeral Mass will be offered Tuesday, January 19 at 1:30 P.M. at

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church,

Capacity for 200 persons.

Interment will follow at San Jose Burial Park.

For those unable to attend, please sign the online guestbook.