Otila Isabel Reséndez Cuéllar passed away on May 29, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was born to Enrique Reséndez Tijerina & Otila Cuéllar López on November 27, 1939 in Laredo, Texas.
Otila was extremely blessed by God, being raised by loving and extraordinary parents, aunts, and uncles. She received a Catholic education beginning with the Hermanas Mercedarias del Colegio América, followed by the Ursuline Sisters at Ursuline Academy. She earned her baccalaureate degree in Education from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio where the Sisters of Charity encouraged growth in Christian values with a zest for learning; recognizing her responsibility of “to whom much is given, much is required.”
Otila was known as “Miss Reséndez” by two generations of students during a passionate 35+ year career as a primarily 6th grade teacher at Ursuline Elementary, later renamed St. Augustine Elementary. On her own initiative, she asked a parent of one of her students to design a new building for Ursuline Elementary which was to include a science lab to challenge and inspire her students and better prepare them for their coming years. To this end, “Miss Reséndez” would acquire more than 1,000 books in her personal collection, requiring of her students 20 book reports per school year.
A dedicated daughter, Otila left an indelible impression on those who called her sister, niece, aunt, great-aunt, cousin, friend, and teacher. A consummate educator, a devotee of Our Lady of Grace, Otila’s loving spirit and compassionate heart captivated everyone who had the chance to know her. Otila leaves behind her younger siblings Enrique L. (Laura) Reséndez, Clotilde (Delfino) Reséndez de García, & Roberto R. (Tere) Reséndez; her nieces and nephews Laura (Fernando) Salido, Adriana Reséndez, Cristina (Jorge) García, Delfino (Gina) García, Enrique (Anna) Reséndez, Lorena Stanfield, Eduardo (Kitty) García, Enrique (Alma) García, Alberto García, and Ana Isabel García, 18 great nieces and nephews, along with her cousins whom she dearly loved, and the “Ursuline girls” of her monthly luncheons. Though she will be greatly missed and is leaving grieving hearts, she leaves us feeling loved with great memories and lessons taught.
The family’s profound gratitude goes out to Drs. Joaquín (+) & Carlos Cigarroa, Dr. William Wu, Dr. Benson Huang, Dr. Timothy Cleland, Dr. Rodolfo Zaffirini (+) and the physicians and nursing staffs of San Antonio Methodist Hospital Metropolitan, Laredo Rehabilitation Hospital, Las Alturas Nursing & Transitional Care, and Laredo Medical Center.
A visitation service will be held at Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services (1320 Trey Dr.) on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 from 5-9pm (7pm Rosary) and a Catholic Mass at 11am on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at San Martín de Porres (1704 Sandman Street), Laredo, Texas. Interment will follow to the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Ursuline Sisters of the Central Province (www.osucentral.org/donate-now).
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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