On December 15, 2024, 10 days shy of her favorite holiday—Christmas, our 79-year-old mother, Maricela Ramón, departed this Earth to reunite with her loved ones and have a Heavenly Christmas. Though here on Earth, our world is darkened by her loss, she now joins her Amá, Apá, her first born Jorge and her husband of 62 years, Jorge Ramón. Mother now revels in paradise like she always hoped. No pain. No suffering. Simply bliss. Ahora ya está en la gloria y camina en las calles de oro como ella decía.

Maricela Ramón was born in Laredo, Texas on February 3, 1945 to Alicia Garza and Cleofas Lopez.

She was a symbol of strength, love, courage, and hope.

Our mother was fierce—every challenge was met with determination. Never did she show weakness. Her resilience was admirable. She wanted us to “break the cycle, be educated, and independent.” She’d say, “‘no quiero que sufran como yo.’”

Many of our friends and extended family sought her out for life advice and guidance, recipes, crafting skills, and gardening tips, for her experience and wisdom was unmatched. She cared for many and helped everyone she could. Her love and empathy was indeed boundless. You’d sometimes leave with a scolding or a ‘cocote’, but you’d leave a tad wiser, your belly full, and your heart content. Nunca te ibas con las manos vacías. She dedicated her life to her family, and she was the strongest foundation of our lives.

Later in life, she would care for others as a provider with a particular interest in hospice care. She would say, “‘Un día yo también necesitaré así que haré todo lo posible para cuidarlos a ellos.’” She wanted nothing more but to provide the utmost care and comfort she would have wanted for herself. Not only did she teach us strength but she modeled courage, hard work, kindness, and sacrifice. Our mother will forever be engrained in our minds and hearts.

When the waves dance and we watch the sun rise and the sun set, she will be with us. When our feet sink into the warm sand at the beach, we will think of her and smile, reeling in the memories we created with her. She will live on with every recipe we emulate, every bird that sings or flies by, every seedling we grow, every plant we tend to—especially the ‘tulipán’ and ‘gardenia’. “‘Y no se les olviden los nogales, la esperanza y el nopal.’” Like a daily alarm, we will forever remember, “‘acuérdense de regar las matas.’” Her gusto for life, laughter, and teachings will forever remain in our minds and in our hearts. We shall carry her memory with pride and strive to live as she did—with strength, kindness, resilience, unconditional love, and hope.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jorge Ramón, son, Jorge V. Ramón, maternal grandparents, Lorenzo and Juanita Garza; father, Cleofas (Jovita) Lopez, mother Alicia Garza Flores, brother Carlos Flores, sisters Minerva Lopez Ortega and Juanita Rodriguez and grandson Gerardo Garza as well as other loved ones.

She is survived by her children Gerardo Ramón, Javier (Ana) Ramón, Rene Ramón, Daniel (Nelda) Ramón, Ruby (Susan) Ramón-Singer, Linda Lee (Carlos) Ramón-Lozano, 23 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, Jose C. Flores (stepfather); seven siblings from Corpus Christi, Texas: Juan Jose (Rosalinda) Flores, Juan Manuel (Rebecca) Flores, Samuel Flores, Pedro Flores, Julian Flores, Hermelinda (Tomas) Garcia, Mary Lou Flores, brother Ramiro (Maria) Lopez and sister Marta (Ramiro) Ramirez both of Hebbronville, Texas.

The family will be receiving guests on Thursday, December 26, 2024, in the Angelus Chapel at Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 pm. Cremation services will be held at a later date.

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

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