Noelia Molina Spentzos

Noelia “Neli” Hilda Molina Spentzos, 85, went to be with the LORD on April 23, 2022. She was born on June 4, 1936 to Luciano and Martina Molina in Ecleto, Texas.

She grew up in a loving family of eight sisters and three brothers. The bonds of love and spirituality that were instilled in her during childhood in a small rural Texas town is what guided her the rest of her life.

She moved to Corpus Christi in 1954 following the death of her father. In 1956, she met the man she would share her life with, John G. Spentzos.

In 1957, she graduated from Corpus Christi Beauty College and acquired a position as a beautician at Lichtenstein’s Department Store, the premier shopping destination in Corpus Christi at that time.
She married John G. Spentzos on June 25, 1961. By the end of 1961, at the young age of 25, she left Lichtenstein’s and opened her own business, Nell’s Beauty Salon on Port Avenue. In 1965, she helped her husband open the Mecca Restaurant, which they operated for numerous years along with Johnny’s Food To Go. She continued her life journey with her husband in various business endeavors until their retirement.

Neli was a devoted mother, wife, and business partner to her husband. She was an active member of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. She fervently embraced the Orthodox religion, traditions and community by serving the Church in many ways. She became a Catechism School Teacher and was honored to be a Godmother (Nona) to several children of her parish. She was also a lifelong member of the Delphi Ladies Club of St. Nicholas.

Neli enjoyed traveling. During her lifetime, she was able to visit many places, ranging from St. Petersburg to Constantinople to Paris to Egypt and of course, Greece. She especially loved visiting the holy sites in Greece. However, because of her deep faith, she always expressed that her most cherished trip was to the Holy Land during the Nativity.

Through all her experiences and travels, though what she treasured most was her two granddaughters, Noelia and Ioanna, the light in her eyes. The love she emanated came full circle with the birth of her granddaughters and the foundation of spirituality and love she encountered growing up extended to everyone she encountered in her life. She was a people person through and through. In her eyes, everyone was a child of God. Her presence will be sorely missed, but her spirit lives on.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John G. Spentzos.

Left to cherish her memory are her two sons George (Sotiria) and Luciano, two granddaughters, Noelia and Ioanna, her beloved sisters Encarnacion Robles and Nora (Israel) Morales, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Special and heartfelt gratitude is extended to Benita Constante, Yvonne Aguirre Coco, Esther Valverde, Blanca Palacios and Nelly Lasso who assisted with her care through the years. She will continue to bless you forever.

Visitation will be held at Seaside Funeral Home Chapel from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 29, 2022 followed by a Trisagion service at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 502 S. Chaparral Street, Corpus Christi, Texas. Interment to follow at Seaside Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 502 S. Chaparral Street, Corpus Christi, Texas 78401

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.