Maria Luisa Contreras de Lafuente
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Maria Luisa Contreras de Lafuente, "Marilu" to her friends, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in Cedar Park, Texas on May 7, 2022.
She was born on January 3, 1933, the second of four children, to Rolando Contreras & Maria Luisa Gonzalez de Contreras in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Early in life, she moved with her parents to the port of Tampico, Mexico and it is here where she met Jorge de Lafuente Delgado, the man who would be her husband for 46 years.
In 1973, she left Mexico to follow her husband to Los Angeles where he was posted by PEMEX as a consular commercial attach?. Interestingly, they brought along their children, Jorge and Emma, then aged six and five, respectively. After two years in Los Angeles, the family moved to her husband's next posting in Brownsville, Texas.
Family - above all - was important to her, and throughout her years she made a point to keep in touch with siblings and cousins in Mexico where summer and winter vacations were invariably spent in the company of siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and the many friends who were considered almost family.
Her faith was intrinsic to her life; she was an active parishioner of Mary, Mother of the Church parish in Brownsville and was involved in her children's schooling at St. Mary's Catholic School. Eventually, she came to be the cafeteria manager at the school where the enchiladas served were the stuff of legend. On "enchilada day" orders came in not only from the school's students, but also from their parents, and the faculty (and, quite possibly, their parents).
Her faith also guided her service to her fellow man; she participated in fund-raising events St. Mary's, as well as at Christ the King parish, and Bingo nights & game-night concessions at St. Joseph Academy where her children went to middle and high school.
She was also a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary's Church.
Her greatest joy was in helping others and lifting people up; she recognized the human dignity of and acknowledged the divine in every one she met. She went on to be the volunteer coordinator for La Posada at the Good Neighbor Settlement House and helped feed Brownsville's less fortunate. The honorable mission of La Posada coupled with her genuine, easy manner and positive demeanor helped her engage with local restaurants and secure donations as well as attract volunteer groups to help serve meals.
In her later years, she moved from Brownsville to be closer to her children, first to League City with her daughter and son-in-law; and later to Cedar Park, with her son and grandchildren.
Her husband, Jorge; and her siblings Maria-Luz and Amada preceded her in death.
She is survived by her son, Jorge A. de Lafuente; her daughter, Emma de Lafuente-Hobley and Emma's husband, Julian Hobley; her three grandchildren: Jorge Antonio, Sofia Elena, and Angelina Lucia; by her brother, Ricardo Contreras and his spouse, Marcela; and additional cousins, nieces & nephews, and grandnieces & grandnephews
A Memorial Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 16th at Mary, Mother of the Church, 1914 Barnard Road, in Brownsville, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you give of yourself by becoming a volunteer with the organization of your choice.