Mabel Rone Cantu

Mabel Rone Cantu As favorite moments in life are etched in our hearts never to be erased, a trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, will be a lasting memory of Mom with cane in hand maneuvering over the cobblestones with a daughter on each arm. Mabel Rone Cantu, age 93, passed peacefully and joined our Lord on December 28, 2013. Mabel was born in Laredo on September 25, 1920, the daughter of Edward Duke Rone and Fernanda Gomez Rone, and spent most of her life in Laredo, McAllen, Houston, and Grapevine, TX. She was raised in Laredo and graduated from Martin High School in 1940. In 1944, Mabel married Raul V. Cantu and was soon rearing their two daughters, Cynthia Yolanda and Maria Delfina while commuting from Laredo to Kingsville, TX to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education (with Bilingual Certification) from Texas A&I in 1955. She taught for 15 years in Laredo; first, at Bruni Elementary School and then at Milton Elementary School, and for another 16 years in McAllen at Bonham Elementary School. Mabel dearly loved her family and enjoyed her pastime as an artist and hobbyist and always relished playing her favorite card game of Canasta with her family and friends. Hardly anyone knew that she could play the piano by ear and that she had mastered songs like “La Malagueña”, “Sabor A Mi” and many other classic Mexican tunes along with favorite Big Band melodies. Mom had a quiet manner that drew people to her side just to sit and talk, often starting her soft spoken conversations with “the thing is this ...” Well, the thing is this… Mom was a lasting example of Americana and our country’s Greatest Generation that is now fading into the past. Mabel and Raul (U. S. Customs Inspector) were married for 47 years; she is preceded in death by him in 1991; brother, Earl Duke Rone; sister, Bessie Garza Balladares; brothers-in-law, Erasmo Garza, Victor Balladares, Agustin Cantu, Emilio Garza, Fausto Villela, and Fortunato Cantu II; sisters-in-law, Juanita Garza, Maria (Cuca) Cantu; niece Linda Treviño; and nephew Fausto Villela, Jr. Mabel leaves behind a rich Rone-Cantu family legacy. Her survivors include her two daughters: Cynthia Yolanda Trichel and husband Douglas Wayne Trichel of Keller, TX, and Maria Delfina Garza and husband Ricardo Erasmo Garza of Houston, TX. Mabel was the proud grandmother of four grandsons: Jonathan Blake Trichel (Lynn); Jason Douglas Trichel (Gargi); Major (USAF) Ricardo Raul Garza (Sonia); and David Nicolas Garza (Heather). She was also blessed with thirteen great grandchildren: Jude, Joshua, Cameron, and Jai Trichel; and Daniela, Paulina, Gabriela, Jacob, Sophia, Isabel, Nicolas, Luke, and Lily Grace Garza. Also a big part of Mabel’s life were her other family survivors: sisters-in-law, Betty Gatica Rone, Concha Villela, Angelica Stanley, Maria Luisa Dickinson (Charles), and Margarita Villareal (Sergio); brothers-in-law Jesus, Cantu (Gloria) and Martin Cantu (Rosa Maria); and 23 very special and beloved nieces and nephews, especially Melinda Garza Cantu and David Balladares who provided unwavering love and support to her and the family. The family would like to express a special thank you to the outstanding caregivers and staff of Dancing River Assisted Living Facility (Grapevine, TX), and also the New Century / Envoy Hospices for the excellent loving care provided to our mother. A celebration of life and memorial service followed by inurnment at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery will be held in Laredo, TX later this spring. If you would like to sign the guestbook or send private condolences, you may do so at www.hillsidefuneral.com.