Manuela Catalina Zamora

Manuela Catalina "Cata" Zamora December 25, 1943 - October 2, 2015 It's with a heavy heart that I regret to announce the passing of my mother. My mom passed away peacefully, she has gone to be with our Lord and Savior. She was two months short of her 73rd birthday and lived in San Antonio most of her adult life. She was born Manuela Catalina Calvillo in Apisolaya Zacatecas to Jose Angel Calvillo and Ma.Trinidad Ponce. She is one of 11 children: Juan, Dolores or tia Loly, Esther (deceased), Abigail, Angelica, Rebecca, Elizabeth - tia Bety, Jose Angel or tio Junior, Caleb (deceased) & Iseael. As the 2nd oldest of the girls, a great deal of responsibility fell on her shoulders at a very young age. She'd have to drop out of school to help out with the younger siblings during a time when the entire world did their best to survive and yank themselves out of the Great Depression. She married Juan Manuel Zamora in the early 60's and of that marriage were born 5 children: Elsa Ruth (may she rest in peace and be happily joined with our mother), Juan Jaime, Patricia Severina, and finally, the twins Angelica Ann, and the baby by a minute Angel Jose. In the words of my aunt, "...She raised you'll to be a group of wonderful very respectful, very caring and loving group of children. She instilled in you determination and a strong will to go out and be a strong warrior as well, ready for what life brings your way." I believe her life was filled with sacrifices, including living without her children as she worked in the states while family looked after us kids back in Mexico, until we were of age to attend school here in San Antonio. Imagine returning to Mexico to see your children and they do not recognize you because you've been gone too long... that's what she endured as she worked to survive to help her family back in Mexico. Earning her GED was one of her proudest moments. She worked her way through the program in the early 80's, she loved education, it was important to her. She was great at math, it was her favorite subject. Later in life she would tutor her grandchildren, teaching them math with dry beans at her kitchen table. She loved her grandchildren: Lia, Eva, Gabriela, Keren, Alethia, Valerie, Paty, Ruben, Efrain, Giovanni, Julianna, Genesis, Christian, Jaclyn. Diego, Jazmine. Great-grandchildren: Carter James, Carlos Antonio, Gianellie Severina, Myela Rae & Kristyn Lei She will be missed by us all, including many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends she made through her lifetime.