To Celebrate a Life of Love: Hortencia Ofilia Guzman Santos

January 1, 1929-July 6, 2019

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the departing of our dear mother and matriarch of our family, Hortencia Ofilia Guzman Santos. After a very brave and courageous battle with cancer, Hortencia entered the house of The Lord, surrounded in love by her family. Lovingly remembered as “Opi” to her friends, “Tatan” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and “Tenchita” to many of her church friends. She set an example of moral values and most importantly to believe in God, and Jesus as our Savior. Loved by her husband, she was the subject of many poems written by him and dedicated to her. She was loved by all.

Without a doubt, she was greeted and received by family members who preceded her including her husband Judge Alberto A. Santos, her parents Ramon Guzman and Hortencia (Silva) Guzman, Olga & Frank Charles, daughter-in-law, Linda W. Santos and grandson, Jason Ernest Ochoa, Alfredo & Ma Asuncion Santos, Alfredo Jr. & Estela Santos, Herminia Santos, Apolonio B. Santos, Amador Morales, Arnulfo & Elva Santos, Maria & Horacio Munoz, Cristobal Luna, and numerous family members.

She will be dearly missed by her children and their spouses: Alberto (Carmen) Santos Jr., Ofilia (Robert) Chapa, Carmen (Carlos) Sandoval, Apolonio Fidel (Juanita) Santos, Isabel (Mark) Ochoa and Jose Alfredo (Terelyn) Santos, 18 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Also, by her sister, Alicia Guzman Luna, aunt, Alicia T. Silva, sisters-in-law, Carmen S. Morales, and Mercedes G. Santos, and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.

She married Alberto A. Santos on February 20, 1949. After raising 6 children, she worked for LISD as Purchasing Agent and retired in 1992.

At the top of her list of many accomplishments were those of devoted wife, great mom, loving grandmother, and caring great-grandmother. Hortencia was a devout Catholic who attended daily Mass and participated in overnight vigil prayers with the Nocturnal Adoration Society. She was a prayer warrior. She had a lifetime devotion to the Blessed Mother and Divine Mercy. She served our Lord as an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist, CCD teacher, and lived her ACTS retreat.

Alberto and Hortencia always instilled the importance of a good education. They made arrangements to ensure that their children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren were able to afford the education that they, themselves, were not able to obtain. We want to express a very special thank you to our sister, Carmen, and her husband, Carlos Sandoval, for taking our dear mother into their home and providing her a loving place during her final years of life; and to her very special, dear friend and confessor, Reverend Father Francisco León, OSA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made payable to her favorite charity: Augustine Fathers, and mailed to Holy Redeemer Church, 1612 Garcia St., Laredo, Texas 78040.

She was a lifelong member of Holy Redeemer Church. In the last five years, she attended St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Visitation will be at Holy Redeemer Church, 1612 Garcia St, Laredo, Texas on Wednesday, July 10th from 5 pm to 8 pm with a Rosary at 6 pm. Celebration of her life will also be at Holy Redeemer Church on Thursday, July 11th with a Mass at 9:30 am. There will be no procession so meet at the Church. Sharing of memories will follow after Mass at the Church Hall. Interment will be held at a later date.