Mary Celia Reyes, 75, was welcomed into the arms of Our Lord, Wednesday September 27, 2017. Born in Elmendorf, Texas, she was the daughter of Louis F. and Mary Celia Pacheco.

The life of the party, Celia could often be spotted at family and church celebrations sporting a sequence top, dancing and laughing the night away. If you were within two blocks of her house on a night that her beloved Spurs were playing you could tell how well they were doing by the shouts coming from her living room.

Her after school care ("extension") students feared her as much as they adored her. She had a strong faith and a devotion to Our Mother Mary, who she shared with all; if she said she'd pray for you, she meant it. The love she had for her family was immense but her grandchildren received the lion's share of it. As a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, cousin, aunt, godmother, and friend, Celia shared her joy for life with all.

Celia was a very active member of the St. Paul Catholic Church and School community, where she served as a founding member and past president of the St. Paul's Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary, a member and past president of the Altar Society, an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist in Mass and to the homebound, Sunday lecturer, an active member of ACTS; serving as director for many retreats, an associate of the Sisters of St. Brigid, past member of the school board, former president of school PTC, and we could go on.

Celia is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Eligio; children Maria Gallegos (Nick), Elizabeth Rodriguez (Frank), Eligio G. Reyes Jr. (Barbara), Rudolpho Reyes (Bonnie), James Reyes (Lela), 12 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, and one great-grandbaby on the way!

To say she will be missed by her family and community is an understatement.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Visitation for Celia will begin on Monday, October 2, at 9:00 am with a Rosary to be recited at 10:30 am followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:00 am at St. Paul Catholic Church.  Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery at Cordi-Marian.

Celebration of Celia's life to follow at St. Paul Community Center, 1201 Donaldson St.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Paul Catholic School, 307 John Adams Dr, San Antonio, TX 78228 .