Angelina Casso de Salinas

Angelina Casso de Salinas Angelina “Nena” Casso de Salinas peacefully passed from this earth in her home on September 18, 2012. She was born in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas to Raul and Arnulfa Casso. Nena was raised in Laredo, Texas with her brothers Raul and Alfonso. Nena became the young bride of Alfredo San Martín on November 20th 1938. She was widowed in 1972. Seventeen years after Alfredo’s death she found love again and married Judge Ezequiel D. Salinas on April 20, 1989. They were a devoted couple until his death on March 13, 2007. “Chapulín”, her dog, was her faithful companion after his passing. Angelina graduated from Laredo High School where she excelled as an athlete and poet (pen name Angel of the Pot). She earned letters in Basketball and Volleyball, was on the debate team and was voted “Best All Around”. After graduating from high school, she began her freshman year at the University of Texas in Austin. Nena worked with her husband in his business, the Laredo Photo Supply. She later helped out in the family business of Casso Guerra & Co. In addition to raising two daughters, Nena was a civic volunteer in Bae Pe, Lulac and The Ursuline Academy PTA clubs, where she spent endless hours in many capacities. She thoroughly enjoyed being the perennial room mother during her daughters’ education there. She especially cherished her career as mother and wife. After Alfredo’s death, antique collecting became a special hobby of Nena’s. Her love for antiques led her not only to beautiful art pieces but to wonderful lifelong friends that shared her interest. She lived her life beautifully, always fiercely proud of her Mexican heritage. Her love of beauty and history is evident in the antiques and found objects she so enjoyed hunting for, collecting and arranging. Anyone who encountered her experienced her ability to bring a smile to their face, sometimes with irreverent jokes or a song, but always with sincere kindness and love. She once said to God “I am not beautiful, what have you given me?” and she said God answered her; “You are a clown.” She always gave a person the benefit of the doubt and found a silver lining in every cloud. “No hay mal que por bien no venga.” she would often say. A champion for the underdog, she fought to ease the suffering of every creature, even the “cucarachos”. Her love of animals was renown and her devotion to her Catholic faith, always strong and unwavering. She lived and taught her faith daily through her words and actions. Nena, a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she will be dearly missed. She is preceded in death by her parents, Raul Casso Sr. and Arnulfa Casso de Guerra; husbands, Alfredo San Martín and Judge Ezequiel D. Salinas; brothers, Raul (Enriqueta) Casso and Alfonso Casso. Angelina is survived by her daughters, Olga San Martín Ramos and Tere San Martín (Dr. Louis A.) Stool; grandchildren, Judy R. (Russell J.) Jordan, Donato D. Ramos Jr., Alfredo R. Ramos, Alexis San Martín Stool and Nathan M. Stool; great grandchildren, Sophia Elise Jordan, Russell David Jordan and Ana Gabriela Jordan, her devoted caregiver Margarita Huitron and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends whom she loved dearly. A rosary will be recited on Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the Hillside Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Monday, September 24, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. from Hillside Funeral Home to Christ the King Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Interment will follow in the family plot of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Rejoice, for although we have lost a great soul the angels have gained a comrade who will keep them in stitches. In lieu of flowers please send a contribution in her memory to the Laredo Animal Protective Society, 956-724-8364 or to Christ the King Church Adoration Chapel, 956-723-4267. If you wish to sign the guestbook or send private condolences, you may do so at www.hillsidefuneral.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Hillside Funeral Home, 310 Hillside Road.