Mercedes Castilleja Rangel passed peacefully into rest on May 2, 2017 among her family.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Mario N. Rangel, parents Pedro and Maria De La Luz Castilleja and brother Luis Castilleja, Sr.

She is survived her by daughters Annette Sanchez (Hector) and Barbara Silva (Andres) and her sons Anthony (Ida), James Michael and Paul Daniel, brothers Juan (Doris) and Armando Castilleja (JoAnn, deceased) and sisters Olga Castilleja and Consuelo Barrientes, 10 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins who loved her.

Mercedes (Mercy / Aunt Mercy) loved travel. She made trips to Germany, England, Italy, France, the Vatican, Mexico, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Utah and many casinos along the way. She loved it so much that she often times went off on her own not waiting around for permission from her kids or even notifying us of her arrangements!!

Travel was second only to dancing even taking to dancing with a broom at home while cleaning the house. She met her husband Mario at a dance and said he almost didn't get his chance because he hid behind a post for a long time before he got up the nerve to ask her.

Mercedes stayed home to take care of her 5 kids until the last one started school and then she became a dietician for the Edgewood School District eventually retiring in 1995.

She will be missed at her family reunion this year. She looked forward to it every September. We are a part of "The Tan Family." Over 1000 Castillejas will know what that means.

She made the best late night snacks. She loved to shop even when it wasn't for herself. She was great at catching fish. She told great family history stories. She had a memory like an elephant. She could stop a bad deed in its tracks with just one look. And she hated waiting!

Mother, Mom, Mama, Ma, Mamasan, Manita, Mercy, Aunt Mercy, Merce, you will be missed.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Visitation will begin Monday, May 8, 2017 at 5:30 P.M. in
The Angelus Chapel
1119 N. St. Mary's St.
with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 P.M.

Funeral Mass will be offered
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 8:30 A.M. at
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
617 S. Santa Rosa Ave.

B urial will follow at
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren: Anthony Simon Rangel and Andrew Sanchez;
nephews: Luis Castilleja, Jr,, Efrain Castilleja,
Mark Anthony Castilleja, and Abel Barrientes

Family Reception to follow burial

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made be made to
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
http://www.stjude.org/