Antonia Zepeda Laurel
June 5, 1921 – March 22, 2022
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,” 2 Corinthians 5:8.
Antonia (Toni) Laurel went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on March 22, 2022.
She was born and raised in Laredo, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Valeriano Zepeda.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Antonio Laurel; by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Valeriano Zepeda, her brothers Ernesto Martinez and Miguel Zepeda, her sisters Mrs. Juanita (Earl Albert) Reed and Mrs. Amelia (Rosendo) Rodriguez: nephews William Val Reed, Michael Reed, Joe M. Reed, and Jose A. Zepeda.
Surviving her are her nephews and nieces: Richard Z. Rodriguez, Rosendo Rodriguez (San Antonio), Ralph Rodriguez (Round Rock), Roland Rodriguez (Louisiana), Mrs. Rita (Tito) Garza (San Antonio), Patricia Z. De La Cruz, Miguel Zepeda, Carlos Zepeda, Nena Z. Alvarado, Martin Zepeda, and Sandra Z. Burton. Also surviving her are numerous great nieces and nephews, and other relatives and Rev. Dr. Cathy L. Guerra, niece on her late husband’s side of the family, who was her devoted friend and caretaker for 20 years.
Mrs. Toni Laurel was an educator with the Laredo Independent School District, where she was a classroom teacher for 19 years and the LISD Director of Guidance and counseling for 20 years until her retirement in 1985. After retiring, she became a missionary in Spain, Belgium, and Israel for 15 years (1986-2001). In 2001, she returned to Laredo. She then traveled at different times on mission trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Venezuela, and Cuba. In Laredo she was active in prison ministry to the women in the Webb County Jail.
More than anything, she loved the Lord Jesus Christ and she served Him faithfully, leading hundreds of people to Christ over the years. She spread the love of Christ to people everywhere she went. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., at Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation services, 1320 Trey Dr. A funeral service will be conducted in the chapel of the funeral home on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Tony Gutierrez officiating. Following the service, burial will be in the Laredo City Cemetery, 3200 N Meadow Ave.
Funeral arrangements are by Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services, 1320 Trey Dr., Laredo, Texas 78041 (956) 723-3611. For your convenience, you may leave your condolences to the family online at www.freddickey.com