Mario Albert Chavez, our loving father, husband, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2023. He was 76 years old.

Mario was born in San Antonio, TX, on July 28, 1946, and was the second of four children born to Consuelo and Estanislado Chavez. He graduated from Fox Tech High School before joining the U.S. Army in 1969. Mario served in the 25th Infantry Division and received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in Vietnam. Mario spent his professional career working in civil service at Fort Sam Houston before joining the San Antonio Water System.

Our father, Mario, was a very devoted husband to his wife, Delia, for 56 years. Throughout their lives, they spent all their time together except for his duties spent in Vietnam or serving in the reserves or National Guard. He loved his wife with utmost devotion and was thankful for her unwavering support during his battle with colon cancer in the years preceding his dementia. Mario was an equally devoted and present father who cared deeply about his children and grandchildren and cheered their successes. He was a talented artist who loved to draw and would enthusiastically contribute to his children's art school projects with his brilliant ideas and insights. Dad could recall many stories of his childhood adventures growing up in the old neighborhood that would leave people intrigued and astounded with his vivid details, like the time he went fishing at Brackenridge Park, climbed a tree there and subsequently fell and broke his arm. Dad was a Jack of all trades, for he could fix, improve, or figure out mechanical, plumbing, and electrical issues without a manual of any kind. Dad enjoyed woodworking and carpentry as a hobby and created toys and other unique household items. He was a good cook who relished creating new recipes; backyard barbecues were his family's favorite. In his younger years, Dad liked to exercise by boxing in the backyard, and he even jumped on a pogo stick to work on his balance! He had a unique sense of humor that often revealed itself in quirky ways, like unknowingly sitting on a whoopie cushion when you least expected it. Dad enthusiastically enjoyed learning and talking about history, politics, and current affairs. In the years before dementia took hold, Dad loved to work on puzzles, and he read a lot; Westerns were his favorite genre of book by the author Louis L'Amour.  We extend special thanks to La Diferencia Hospice and Visiting Angels, who got to know Dad well, cared for his health before his passing, and helped our Mom when she needed them most.

Mario is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Delia, and three children; Valerie and her husband, John; Mario and his wife, Elizabeth; Daniel and his life partner, Thelma; brother Daniel and sister, Diana; numerous nieces and nephews; and three grandchildren, Sophia, Robert, and Natalie. Mario is predeceased by his parents, Consuelo and Estanislado, his brother Tony, his sister-in-law, Linda, and his brother-in-law, Steve.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Visitation will be held at 5:00pm

Rosary to be recited at 7:00pm

The Angelus Funeral Home

1119 N. St. Mary's St.

Thursday, June 1, 2023

A funeral procession will depart the funeral home at 11:15am.

Funeral mass will be offered at 12:00pm at

St. Jude Catholic Church

followed by the burial at

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with military honors