Belia Bernal de Anda

Belia Bernal de Anda went to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 15, 2024. Belia passed away peacefully surrounded by family members at the age of 99 at her home.

Born on April 9, 1924 in Laredo, Texas to Albino and Guadalupe Sandoval Bernal, she was the 4^th of their 8 children. She grew up in Laredo where she met her husband, Joe de Anda Sr. to whom she was married for 56 years. Her loving husband preceded her in death in the fall of 1999.

Belia was a loving mother to her children Joe (Monique) de Anda Jr., Hilda (Arthur) Garza and Sylvia (Jose Antonio) Dodier and cherished by her eight grandchildren Christy (Vicente) Villarreal, Benjamin (Amber) de Anda, AJ (Kristina) Garza, Lisa (Dale) Bushland, Rene Ricardo (Mayra) Solis, Melissa (Timothy) Welsh, Marco Antonio Solis (+) and Melanie (Joe) Riley. As the matriarch of five generations, her legacy also includes eleven great-grandchildren and five great, great-grandchildren.

Belia enjoyed early professional success working at Zales & Sears in Laredo, TX. She went on to be owner of Ace Liquor & Novelties and Joe de Anda’s Distinctive Clothing. After retirement, Belia enjoyed playing cards with friends, traveling with her husband and children, as well as taking her grandchildren on trips. One of the most fondly remembered trips was to Disney World with six of her grandchildren (ranging in age from 9 to 14 yrs of age) in the summer of 1980. When at home, she loved reading by the front living room window on her favorite sofa, watching the birds enjoy the fountain in her back yard from the dining room table, and captivating her loved ones with stories of her childhood.  A story that the grandchildren loved to hear her tell was that of being the first of three sisters that were married to three brothers, plus a cousin who married a fourth brother.

Everybody who knew Belia knew that she was the embodiment of wonderful qualities that included unconditional love and strength of spirit and devotion to her faith.  She will live on through our prayers and the stories we tell about all of the fond memories created with her throughout the years.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 10:30 am at St. Patrick Catholic Church.

A Private Interment will be held at a later date.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of Hillside Funerals & Cremations; 310 W. Hillside Rd.; Laredo, TX 78041; 956.724.6060