Virginia Mendoza

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Virginia O. Mendoza, our loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and friend to all whose lives she touched.  She passed away in El Paso, Texas at Del Sol Medical Center.  Virginia was born on March 12, 1951, in Las Cruces, New Mexico to Celestino and Rita Ortega.

On December 8, 2021, she left us after battling an aggressive virus, along with Pneumonia.  She was an amazing soul with much joy and had such a beautiful smile that would brighten any day.  Starting at a youthful age, and for most of her life, she worked for her aunt and uncle at Chuy’s Restaurant.  Throughout her lifetime she worked at multiple local restaurants and showed great skill.  She always loved what she did, and we will always remember her homemade breads and cinnamon rolls.  She loved listening to her oldies while cleaning and cooking when she was able.  As she began to struggle with arthritis, those activities she loved began to shorten.  Her joy was spending time with family, she loved to dance and to watch her Dallas Cowboys play.  Her faith in the Lord was grand, praying was always a must.  She left many wonderful memories and good traits to family and friends.  She will be deeply missed.

Those left to cherish Virginias memories are her daughter Valerie Virginia Mendoza, her two sons Thomas Mendoza Jr. and Michael Jason Mendoza along his wife Adriana, all from Van Horn.   Virginia was blessed with twelve grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

She is preceded in death by her husband Thomas Mendoza, her parents Celestino and Rita Ortega, her sister Paula O. Rodriguez and her brother Celestino Ortega Jr.

A funeral mass was held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Van Horn, Texas on Friday, December 17, 2021, officiated by Father Frank Hernandez.   The burial followed at the Van Horn Cemetery.

Pallbearers serving were: Anthony Mendoza, Orzrae Florez, Kobe Mendoza, Ruben Florez, Clinton Flowers, Felipe Gonzalez, Ricky Gonzalez and Dezie Benavidez.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Heritage Funeral Home of Van Horn, Texas.

To our beloved mother:

God saw you getting tired,

and a cure was not to be.

So he put his arms around you

and whispered, “come to me.”

With tearful eyes we watched you

as you slowly slipped away

and though we loved you dearly,

we couldn’t make you stay.

Your golden heart stopped beating,

your tired hands put to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us

he only takes the best!

Francis and Kathleen Coelho