NIEVES Medrano Ortega was born in a small farmhouse in Macdona, TX. As a child, she and her eight siblings harvested crops alongside their parents Juan Vasquez Medrano and Dominga Vargas Mora Medrano. This enabled her to find security and build a home in the west side of San Antonio. She attended Stafford Elementary & San Fernando High School.

Nieves was a hard worker, traveling at a young age, following the seasons and harvesting crops across the U.S.  With the family, she picked cotton, beets, spinach, onions, cherries, oranges, watermelon, corn and more. She shared stories about working under the scorching sun. One day, working feverishly to keep up with her dad, to pick a field of corn, she fainted. Her father picked her up. Placed her on the corn stack in the truck and picked the rest of the field alone. In another story, she recalled dancing and cooling off under the insecticide mist sprayed by crop dusters.

Through all the harsh conditions, Nieves lived the motto: "Charity starts at home." She was key to her father's negotiations because she interpreted and translated agreements between him and the farmers. This experience gave her early wisdom and business acumen. Also, much of her earned income helped manage the household needs for her siblings providing essentials like food, clothing, school supplies, surgeries, medical care, and more.

This dedication to "la familia" expanded with her husband Deacon Silvestre Cantu Ortega Jr. and their six children: Cynthia, Adrian, Christine, Catherine, Leticia, and Sylvester III. Because of their spiritual beliefs Nieves and Silvestre sacrificed so that their children could receive a Catholic education. This investment prepared all her children to attain higher education and lifelong skills.

Nieves put her strong faith into an active spiritual life. She lent her accounting and organizing skills to fundraise for St. Jude's Catholic Church. She proudly served as a deacon's wife preparing hundreds of parishioners for baptisms, first communions, confirmations, weddings and funeral services.  Plus, she took great pride serving as a marriage guidance counselor and CCD teacher.

Nieves had a vivacious personality. She had a great sense of humor and could set up the gag for a laugh! Like when she supplied the baking soda—that was kept in the bathroom--when her son who was missing that one ingredient to bake cookies. (This was the age before Febreeze!) Her favorite movie was Indiana Jones. And shockingly, she laughed through the John Wick movies like they were action comedies.

Some of Nieves' favorite singers included Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Tina Turner.  She also liked to dance.  As a young woman, she would go to the dance halls with her girl friends, escorted by her brother Raul. Later with her husband and comadres, she attended the church dances featuring the Paul Elizondo Orchestra.  Her comadres joked that her husband had two left feet.  But since Nieves had two right feet they always had fun.  As recently as six months ago she was dancing at the Mexican American Bar Assoc.'s Annual Pachanga!

A lifelong learner and world traveler, Nieves believed that learning is ageless. A few travel highlights include her pilgrimages to Mexico and the Holy Land.  In Mexico City, she saw the Virgen de Guadalupe's Tilma and climbed the Aztec Pyramid of the Sun. In the Holy Land, she felt awed visiting the City of Petra. And she sailed across the Sea of Galilee to enjoy a simple meal of St. Peter's fish. She climbed the Great Wall of China, and crossed the Giants' Causeway in Ireland.  She also visited Chinatowns in San Francisco and Shanghai. Indeed, she was a ready traveler taking planes, trains, rental cars, donkeys, pedi-cabs, hayrides and tuk tuks. She had many more adventures that included Canada, France, Italy, Banff, Spain, and Puerto Rico to name a few.

She made international friends throughout her travels. She graciously accepted the championship flower bouquet from Martina Navratilova's winning Wimbledon match. Pope John Paul II gifted a hand-made rosary to her at the Vatican Library, after attended a private Mass with him in the Vatican chapel.

At home or abroad, current events always inspired lively conversations. Using clever wit, Nieves' split-second comments revealed profound truths, yet sparked fun!  For example, after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade she pointed out that the original decision addressed the right to privacy; not the ethics of an "abortion".  In another example, after the most recent presidential impeachments, she gave a summary analysis: "He'll defect to Russia."  Countless issues fascinated Nieves all her life.

Her employment with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate included responsibilities that extended resources and support to missionaries in the U.S. and other countries like Zambia, Mexico, Brazil, and Haiti. She believed that her dedication to bookkeeping, accounting and as a notary, in part, helped spread the Catholic faith around the world.  And she did so for 50 years.

Nieves' surviving siblings include: Maria M. Martinez; Adan Medrano; and Rufina M. Herrera.  She is survived by her six children, daughter-in-law Gina (married to Sylvester), and two grandchildren: Estevan Mendiola and Jose Juan Arturo Ortega; and step-grandson Joel A. Sanchez married to Susana.

She was preceded in death by her husband Silvestre; grandson Rudy Mendiola IV; and her siblings: Raul, Juan, Gloria, Ester, and James.

She was a loved and loving woman who came from poor beginnings.  She found happiness holding to her faith to forge a meaningful and rich life. Nieves left a great legacy: Her grace, charity and faith will live on through those who knew her.

SERVICES:

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Viewing:  5:00pm to 7:00pm   Rosary: 7:00pm,

The Angelus Funeral Home

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Mass:  12:00 noon, St. Jude Catholic Church.

Graveside Ceremony: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 2:00pm

**For those that would like to send flowers, it is at the family's request to please use Elizondo's Flowers 210-432-4231**