Ms. Maria Elba “Delia” Villarreal, age 84, passed away on September 1, 2020. She was born on April 27, 1936 to Hilario and Maria Villarreal in Taft, Texas. After Delia was born the family moved to Corpus Christi where she grew up. She was a proud graduate of Roy Miller High School.
Delia was a loyal, committed employee with Driscoll Children’s Hospital. Her career spanned 50 years from 1956 – 2006. She worked as a Medical Records Technician. With each era of her career she adapted to organizational changes, systems changes, and technology. She often spoke fondly of her coworkers and shared many fascinating stories about the many hospital changes she witnessed over the course of five decades.
She was affectionately known as “Delia” because when she started public school at the age of six, teachers, in those days, would arbitrarily and simply decide they preferred a different name. They preferred Delia over her actual name Elba. Delia will always be remembered as a loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She had a special devotion to her parish, St. Patrick Catholic Church. She became a parishioner in 1982. She regularly attended daily mass. Delia was a member to the Altar and Rosary Society. She enjoyed her laity role of presenting the offertory gifts during Holy Mass until she became physically unable.
Delia was committed to maintaining family bonds after her mother’s death, especially Christmas and Easter traditions. Her apartment would fill with family members with relatives spilling outside at times. Every year Delia devised a fun system for distributing gifts to her nieces and nephews and other relatives on Christmas Eve followed by attending Midnight Mass. Delia also had a tradition of taking her nieces and nephews to the illuminated Buccaneer Days parade and carnival. She often commented that she felt motherly toward her nieces and nephews and enjoyed watching them have fun. She was known for her generosity and kindness. Delia was always supportive to her loved ones in pursuing their dreams. She also loved reading. Her apartment was filled with books as she was an avid reader.
Delia is preceded in death by her parents Hilario Villarreal and Maria Cantu Villarreal, sister Lupita Villarreal, and brother Juan C. Villarreal. She is survived by sisters Frances Villarreal, Estela Garza (Thomas), brother Hilario Villarreal (Sylvia) and sister-in-law Viola P. Villarreal. Delia is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
A rosary will be recited at 10:00 am on September 9, 2020 at Saint Patrick Catholic Church at 3350 S. Alameda Street, Corpus Christi, TX. A funeral Mass will be celebrated following the rosary at 10:30 am by Rev. Sanish Mathew, HGN. Interment to follow at Seaside Memorial Park.
In Lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to Saint Patrick Catholic Church or mass intentions for Delia.
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