Funeral services for Esperanza Diaz, 79, of Ellendale will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The Rev. Swaminatha Pothireddy will officiate. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Esperanza died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, at her son’s home.
Esperanza Diaz was born on March 9, 1930, in Pontiac, Mich., to Jose and Catalina (Vega) Avelar. The family moved to Crystal City, Texas, where Esperanza grew up and attended school. On Oct. 8, 1955, Esperanza was united in marriage to Louis Diaz Sr. at St. Mary’s Church. Esperanza was employed by Stegenga Brothers as a farm laborer. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Esperanza enjoyed spending time with family, watching game shows and playing Bingo.
Survivors include her daughter, Rosemary (John) Goedtel; sons: Ralph Diaz, Albert Diaz, Dan Diaz and special friend Kathy, and Louis Diaz Jr. and special friend, Cathy; granddaughter, Carey Guiterrez; grandson, Sean Goedtel; sister, Mary Lou (Abel) Montellano; brother, Ray (Isabel) Avelar; and brother-in-law, Armando Vaquera; many nieces and nephews.
Esperanza was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Louis Diaz Sr.; son, Leonard Diaz; and sister, Beatriz Vaquera.