Obituary— Rafaela C. Sanchez
Rafaela C. Sanchez passed away on February 23, 2020 in Point, Texas at the age of 78. She was born on December 28, 1941 in Fabens, Texas to Candelario and Pauline Calderon. She was a lifetime resident of Van Horn, Texas except for the last ten years, she relocated to Dallas to be with her daughters. Rafaela loved to be around family and friends, she had a way of showing people she loved them by her wonderful home-cooked meals. She was very vivacious and very hands-on when it came to her girls. She loved to play softball with them and load the neighborhood kids in the back of a truck for fun rides including trips to Stuckeys or Dairy Queen for ice-cream. Rafaela worked at the Van Horn School Cafeteria for a number of years and made many friends there. She then went on to be a manager at Wendy’s. She loved to travel, and traveled to several countries with her husband. Rafaela always reminded everyone to be with your loved ones while they were alive, to love them now, bring flowers now and never wait until it’s too late. You could always count on her cute jokes and scary stories like “La Llorona”. Rafaela will be truly missed by everyone she touched.
She is survived by her daughters Linda Whiting and spouse James of Point, Texas, Kathryn Fuentes and spouse Edwardo of Odessa, Texas, Mary Kirkman and spouse Gary of Sachse, Texas, Barbara Calixco and spouse Jose of Odessa, Texas and Nancy Sanchez of Dallas, Texas. Rafaela is also survived by her three brothers; Candelario Calderon, Rosendo Calderon and Fernando Calderon and her sisters Josephina Carrillo and Irma Loft.
She was blessed with 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
Rafaela is preceded in death by her husband Simon Sanchez, her daughter Teresa Sanchez, her parents Candelario and Paulina Calderon, three Calderon brothers and her four Enriquez brothers.
A funeral mass was held on February 29, 2020 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church of Van Horn, Texas. The mass was officiated by Father Apolinar Samboni. The burial followed at the Van Horn Cemetery.
Pallbearers serving were; Michael Fuentes, Steven Fuentes, Moises Talavera, Daniel Kirkman, Hunter Kirkman, Robert Rodriquez, Antonio Record, Davin Fuentes and Jax Fuentes.
