Maria Rocha

Maria de la Luz Rocha, a life-long family woman, passed away peacefully in her daughter’s home in Odessa TX.  She went Home in much of the same style in which she lived, after a long day filled with her loved ones as they recounted stories of a woman with absolutely no quit. Affectionately known as “Luz”, she was born in Santa Barbara, Chihuahua, Mexico, on January 2, 1942. Living much of her life in Van Horn, TX., she married her husband, Ernesto in Our Lady of Fatima on April 16, 1964, and had five beautiful children.

Luz Rocha had the distinct ability to cook most of her recipes by sight alone and used the palm of her hand as her only measuring guide when cooking from scratch. She enjoyed being in her kitchen and having friends and family come to her table as she fed them hot meals. Luz had the distinct ability to make friends everywhere she went, with most eventually feeling like family, as they too would call her ‘Mom’, and her door was always open. Red was always Luz’s favorite color, and she was often seen wearing a red lip, smiling, and cracking jokes. Ama made amazing gorditas and tamales, her favorite food was chicharrones con chile and camarones, she loved crocheting, making quilts, gardening, listening to music, watching her grandchildren grow – up, and dancing. She leaves behind two siblings, Esther and Francisco, five children – Lupe (Marco), Esther (Atanacio), Josefina (Joe), Concha (Willie) and Ernesto, twelve grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.

Services for Luz were officiated by Father Apolinar Samboni, and held on Thursday, September 3rd at the Van Horn Cemetery under the Gazebo at 10:00 am. She was carried to her final resting place by her brother, Francisco, son, Ernesto, and grandchildren – Aaron, Diego, Isaac, Jasmin, Joe – Anthony, and Lindsey.

Honorary Pallbearers were son – in – laws Atanacio Garcia, Joe Sanchez, Marco Ventura, and Willie Edwards.