Our sweet and beautiful mother, Gloria V. Herrera, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2024. Surrounded by her loving family, Gloria embraced life for as long as she could because of her great faith and unconditional love for her family. Gloria would pray the rosary nightly, for much of her life, as a special way of protecting her loved ones.

Our mother was the heart and soul of the Herrera Family. Throughout her life she had a huge life force. Mama is a special Soul. Even at the tender age of 99, she would dance the Jitterbug in her bed.

Gloria Valero was born on January 6, 1925 in Laredo, Texas. After her father passed away, Gloria's family moved to Chicago, Illinois. It was there that Gloria began a 3-year period of letter writing to the young man from San Antonio, Adolph R. Herrera, whom she met on July 4,1939 while roller skating in a small park in Laredo. After stealing her heart, they were married in 1942 and settled in San Antonio, Texas.

Gloria V. Herrera, or as we all affectionately called her all our lives, Mama, lived to be 99 years and 7 months old. During her life, Mama had 7 children, 4 grandchildren and one great grandson. Life with Mama was never boring. She was a creative homemaker who used what little money she had to make life better for her family. Sewing, gardening and cooking were special talents she possessed to make clothes and grow huge gardens of flowers and vegetables in the yard.

Mama had a lucky streak. She once found a scratch-off on the ground that was a winner. Most impressive of all was the time that Mama won $2,000 in a church raffle. Instead of spending the money on herself, she gave the money to her son to purchase a riding mower so he would not have to work so hard.

Mama loved the movies! Her favorites included Shirley Temple films, The Wizard of OZ, Musicals, 007 and Scary Movies! She loved watching Baseball and The Olympics! Speaking of the Olympics, Mama wanted to use her money to fly all her family to attend the Olympics. Mama was unique and made the world a better place.

Mama loved the color, Pink! She was always so cute and adorable in her pink blouses, pants, beanie caps, gloves, purses, bed sheets, etc. And if she did not already have it, we made for darn sure that she would get it! Mama loved to open her pink purse and count her money. She would be so happy and excited when she found out how much she had.

When Mama was in her 50's, she went to Night School for 4 years to get her High School Diploma. She was dedicated and loved learning new things. A bit of an entrepreneur, Mama convinced a men's hat shop on Houston Street in downtown San Antonio to sell her homemade denim caps in the 1970's!

We will all miss Mama tremendously the rest of our lives. She was forever young at heart. Funny, cute, sweet, feisty, playful and loving. Memories of her will help lessen the loss of her. It will be most difficult, but I know that she wants all her children to be happy and healthy and not be sad. We will always try to remember that when the times get sentimental.

Gloria V. Herrera was preceded in death by her parents, Alfredo and Manuela Valero; her siblings, Alfredo Jr., Angelica, Socorro, Carmen and Victor; her husband, Adolph R Herrera Sr.; and sons, Adolph R Herrera Jr and Joseph V Herrera.

She is survived by her children, Gilda A. Herrera, Marie E. Herrera, Gloria H. Cook, Alex A. Herrera and Daniel V. Herrera; grandchildren, Scott A. Herrera, Karen A. Herrera, John S. Cook,  Mitchell R. Cook; great grandson, Luca Herrera; daughter-in-Law, Ann Herrera and son-in-law Philip Cook.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Saturday, August 10, 2024

Visitation 12:00 P.M.

Rosary       2:00 P.M.

The Angelus Funeral Home Chapel

Monday, August 12, 2024

Funeral Mass 10:00 A.M.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church (South San)

Reception to follow

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Graveside Service   9:30 A.M.

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery