Maria del Pilar De Leon de Uribe

Maria del Pilar De Leon de Uribe, 89, of Laredo, passed away on Monday, November 12.   A strong, independent and loving wife, mother and grandmother, she was born in Madrid, Spain, on September 11, 1929, to Enrique De Leon and Blanca Ramirez De Leon. Her well-established family included her grandfather, who was a captain in the Spanish Royal Guard, which protects the king and dates to medieval times. During the Spanish Civil War in 1936-39, her family often times took refuge in the Chinese embassy located next door to their home in the Plaza de Salamanca. Although they suffered extreme hardship after the war, they persevered and flourished. In the mid-1950s, she met and fell in love with Ramiro Alfonso Uribe, a dashing U.S. Air Force officer from Laredo, who was stationed in Spain. They were married in Matamoros, Mexico, on November 11, 1955. For the next several years, the couple welcomed three children and brought them up in Panama, California and Texas – and traveled extensively in Europe and Latin America. They retired to Laredo’s Del Mar neighborhood in 1969. A devout Catholic, Ms. Uribe found joy and purpose as an active parishioner of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Laredo.   She also became somewhat of a fixture in the Del Mar neighborhood where she exercised regularly through biking and walking. Her devotion to fitness helped her live a long, healthy and productive life. Ms. Uribe was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and her sister. She is survived by her children, Alberto Uribe of Los Angeles, CA., Blanca Uribe of San Antonio and Luis Uribe of Laredo; grandchildren, Gabriela, Luis Alberto and Blanca; stepdaughter Corina Uribe; step-grandchildren Erin (Johnny) and Brent; and a large extended family. A rosary will be recited on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hillside Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 555 E Del Mar Blvd. Anyone wishing to pay their respects please meet at church. Interment will be on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio, Texas. In lieu of flowers make contributions to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or a charity of your choice. If you would like 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.