Birth date: Dec 30, 1945 Death date: Feb 17, 2026
Maria Alma Castañeda, beloved mother, grandmother, and cherished matriarch, entered eternal rest at the age of 80. She was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and was lovingly raised by her mother, Hortencia Cuellar; her stepfather, Ju Read Obituary
I am so grateful for you, Grandma. I miss you so much, but I know you’re in a better place in heaven, not suffering anymore and free of pain in your new body, dancing with your siblings, looking at us and praying over us as we continue to pray for you. I never thought this day would come, because you always seemed like a holy saint to me, protected by God’s divine protection.
I love you. Thank you so much for taking care of me when I was little. I remember when I made you play Lego Batman with me, or watch me play because it made me happy having you watch me. Then I remember “cooking for you.” Of course it wasn’t real cooking I was far too little. I just put flour, pepper, salt, and random stuff in a pan and showed you, and you smiled. I’m sure I made a mess that you cleaned, and I’m grateful for that.
I also loved your cooking. I remember those eggs those buttery eggs. Now I know why I love butter so much, especially in my eggs. Thank you so much, my beautiful grandma.
I’m so grateful for the times my mom would drop me off when I was sick, or when I was to little for School and you would rush right in, take care of me, protect me, and nurse me back to health. I also remember the time Grandpa and you took me to H-E-B. You sat on your “booster seat” or “cushion” , and I sat in the middle between you and Grandpa as he sat on a seat similar to yours. You told me to wait while you went to get the groceries.
I’m so grateful for the parental love you showed me. I wish I could see you, but this is farewell until we meet again in heaven.
— Christopher Morales “Cristóbal” “weto” “mijo”
We lay you to rest tomorrow, Wela, but by now you’re already in heaven, relieved of dialysis and free from the confinement of a wheelchair. I will always remember you as a second mom, raising me alongside my siblings in our small apartment. You loved us through your home cooked meals and rocked us to sleep during nap time. I won’t forget your Spanish prayers or your voice saying, “I love (lobe) you.”
The Lord couldn’t have blessed us with a better grandma, so loving and as kissy, as you. We will all miss your hugs and the long, protective prayers you would whisper over us before we left the house. As much as I wish we had more time with you, we were deeply blessed to have you for as long as we did.
Through your life, you taught us resilience and the power of prayer. We surrounded you with love, and you returned it tenfold. Thank you for blessing our family with your love, your faith, and your forgiveness.
Please pray for us Wela, and we will continue to pray for you 🙏🏽
Until we meet again,
Dianita
Wela taught me what it truly means to keep God at the center of my life. Through her, I learned how precious family is and what unconditional love really looks like. She had the most innocent, pure soul — I’ve honestly never met anyone like her.
She was the most selfless person I’ve ever known and never expected anything in return. She gave so much of herself so freely, with a love that felt effortless and pure. To me, she was the closest thing to a saint.
She showed me how powerful a positive attitude can be. No matter what she was going through with her health, I never once saw her in a bad mood. She carried herself with so much grace and light. She was so beautiful — inside and out — and her presence could warm up any room. She had this angelic aura that made everyone feel safe and loved.
She was the best Wela I could have ever asked for. I will always hold her in my heart. She is, and always will be, my biggest role model.
