Sister Mary Wilfred Ontiveros, MCDP (95), entered eternal rest on December 5, 2024, at Our Lady of the Lake McCullough Skilled Facility in San Antonio. She was born on July 3, 1929, in D'Hanis, TX, to Telesforo Ontiveros & Hilaria Cruz. Sister Mary was baptized as Leodora on August 24, 1930, at Holy Cross in D'Hanis and is preceded in death by her parents and her nine siblings, Paulina O. Gonzales, Maria Cecilia Cruz, Belia J. Meyer, Hortencia Tovar, and Alejandro, Jose, Severino, Federico, and Francisco. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Sister Mary Wilfred entered the Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence (MCDP) in San Antonio on June 6, 1948, and professed first vows February 7, 1953, and final vows on August 6, 1959. Her studies were at Our Lady of the Lake University, and she was CPE certified.

The MCDPs, bishops, priests, co-ministers, the laity, and her family, knew Sister "Willie" as a woman of exuberant energy, courage, as a take-charge person, and committed to serving the people of God. She is remembered for her generosity in Texas in the Archdioceses of San Antonio, Galveston-Houston, and the Dioceses of Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Dallas; Deming, Las Cruces in New Mexico; Fresno, Riverdale in California; Dodge City in Kansas; and in Nebraska. Sister Willie was the first MCDP to venture outside of Texas to Fresno, California. Other sisters followed and ventured to other states as far as Alaska. A ministry dear to her heart was working with the migrant workers.

She held various positions in her ministries and with our MCDP community. When she retired from salaried employment, she did volunteer ministry at Our Lady of Good Council. She took on major tasks at St. Andrew's, the MCDP motherhouse. As her health declined into her nineties, she maintained her charisma and generosity without pretense at McCullough Skilled Nursing Facility where staff and employees came to know and admire Sister Willie of the past and present.

Sister Willie was known for using the Spanish term, "Corazón" (dear heart) in place of a person's name for a select few to let them know they are special. However, Sister Willie's Corazónes numbered beyond just a select few! They included family, children, friends, MCDPs, and even strangers whom she felt needed a kind word. In her role as Aunt Sister Willie, she volunteered her family members to help with MCDP projects and fund-raisers. One could count on their presence at MCDP major festivities. The change of the religious habit revealed the side of her personality that enjoyed dressing with a modest flare; shoes with high heels, jackets, blouses, and scarfs of red color that complimented her vibrant personality! Yet, in a moment, she could change to working clothes and take on tasks that required hard work. Anyone that knew her can also attest to the strong and direct manner she voiced her opinion. She could do the same in a charming way as well.

Sister Willie was the last of ten siblings to go home to God. Her nieces and nephews will pass down fond memories of their Aunt Willie. Her niece Lulu recalls: My earliest memories of Tia were of her driving me and my mom (Pauline) in her little Volkswagen bug, zipping down Castroville Road to help with the laundry at the convent for a couple of hours. During that time, I ran around and did whatever I wanted. I felt safe and loved; the nuns there prayed for me.

Jumping forward eight to ten years, the family would get excited when we knew Sister Willie was coming to visit. We would give the house a thorough cleaning, purchased groceries, and we handmade tortillas by the stacks. This was not a once-a-year thing. She came when she could for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sometimes this meant we celebrated in November and December. The visits were always fun because my aunts and uncles would spend time with the family.

My next memorable event was when she was in Nebraska for a training class. She wanted a cowboy piñata to show the people up north how we celebrated birthdays in Texas with a Mexican influence. Finding a piñata in San Antonio was not difficult, however, locating a cowboy piñata was a doozy!

Sister Willie knew and served all classes of people in her years of service. She came from a big family, extending four to five generations of nieces and nephews still living today. We were little chunks of her heart. That is why she lovingly called all of us, "Corazon."

The Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence offers our condolence and gratitude to the Ontiveros family for sharing one of their own to serve in the mission of the Church. Our gratitude extends to the Congregation of Divine Providence and to their staff and employees at McCullough, to the bishops, priests, and to the many friends who kept in contact with her throughout the years. Sister Willie will always be remembered with much love and fondness.

May she rest in the eternal peace and joy of God!

All Services will be held

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Annunciation Chapel – Our Lady of the Lake Convent

603 S.W. 24th Street

Viewing: 8:45 AM

Rosary: 9:15 AM

Mass: 10:00 AM

Interment will follow in

San Fernando Cemetery #2 - 746 Castroville Rd.

Reception:

Our Lady of the Lake Convent - Regan Center