Audelia Lopez

Audelia Maldonado Lopez, 71 of Abilene, passed away on Thursday February 29th, 2024, while surrounded by her loving family and under the care of her seven boys in New Caney, TX.  Her loss is completely devastating and came after a very sudden decline in her health and her family is profoundly saddened.  A visitation will be held on Friday March 8th from 5:00-7:00 pm with a Rosary following the viewing at 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St.  A funeral mass will be held on Saturday March 9th, at 10:00 am at St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church.

Audelia was born on October 12, 1952, in Raymondville, Texas, to Jesus and Josepha Maldonado.  She was the 3rd oldest of nine children and is survived by her five sisters, and two brothers; Benita Dudensing, Mary Lechuga, Tony Rodela, Rose Robinson, Sebastiana Maldonado-Espinosa, Charles Maldonado, and Efejaenio Maldonado.  She has seven sons; Jesus, Juan, Gregory, James, David, Alberto, and Marco Lopez; three daughter in-laws; Angela Lopez, Amy Dias, and Tina Lopez;  seventeen grandchildren; Edgar, Joseph, Mariah, Lila, Leah, Cody, Taylor, Anecia, Vick, Arriana, Julian, Jason, Elijah, Nathanael, Colton, Wynter, and Zayden; and four great grandchildren; Jampierre,  Amethyst, Ariela, and Kimiko.

She came from a big family and loved being surrounded by loved ones.  She was an amazing cook, and that is what brought everyone together.  She was always welcoming and enjoyed cooking for anyone that would come to her home.  Her tortillas were always something to fight over, and the “baby” tortillas were something special to acquire.  It was always hard to shadow her cooking because it was done without measurements and always with her heart.

At the age of 7, Audelia was run over by a truck and hospitalized.  Her parents were told that she wouldn’t survive, to let her go because she was gone, and there was nothing they could further do to help her prognosis.  Her dad gave as much blood as possible to keep fighting for her to pull through and never lost faith in God.  Thanks to God and lots of prayers, she pulled through.  After that miracle, she was told that she would never have children.  Little did they know how great God was and she would later have seven more miracles.  Audelia was an exemplary mother and human being.  She embodied the best qualities: unconditional love, strength of spirit, kindness, and an unending generosity that could be seen in her care for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, entire family, and countless others.  Delia dropped out of Junior High, and later went on to study and show her boys the importance of education.  She gained her GED in 1994 while working 2 jobs and raising seven boys on her own.

She enjoyed singing and dancing from a young age and always wanted to be a singer in a band.  She used to have a battery powered radio she would tie on her belt while chopping cotton for 10 hours a day.  She loved the song “Bule Bule”, used to buy 45s (albums) and spent her money to buy the music she liked to sing while working on the cotton fields with her brother and sister.  She would tell her boys that she would fulfill her dream of being a singer and did back in 2010.  She was a lead singer in the band Los Brillantes del Bravo for 2 years.  She always told her boys that they could do anything they set their mind to and always follow their dreams.  She passed on her passion for music and dancing by teaching her boys to dance and sang to them showing her love of music.  She danced till the age of 71 and held a full time job as a Shift Supervisor at Abilene Christian University for the past 19 years.

She was a pillar of strength, kindness, and unwavering love, leaving an unforgettable mark on the hearts of all who knew her.  Her dedication to her children was unparalleled, and her legacy of compassion and resilience will forever live on through her children and their children.  In her selfless devotion, she nurtured and guided her boys, instilling in them values of integrity, kindness, independence, and determination.  She will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by her family, friends and all those whose lives she’s touched.  Her departure comes as a great shock and a deep wound, and it is gravely felt by her entire family and countless others who loved her deeply.  The family appreciates your support during this difficult time and ask that you make contributions in lieu of flowers and by sharing memories of our beloved mother, Audelia.  May her soul rest in eternal peace, may her memory be a blessing, and may you find comfort in the cherished moments you shared together.