Obituary of Angelica Arce

ANGELICA ARCE EDINBURG, TX - Angelica Cortez Arce, 87, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, peacefully returned to her loving Heavenly Father on Friday, the 4th of February 2022, in Edinburg, Texas. Her zeal and love of life was always within her. “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7. Angelica was born on 17" of May 1934 in Jamé, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico to Gregorio Cortez and Julia De Leon. Her parents raised eleven children together. They all moved to Edinburg, Texas. Later, she met Tomás Arce from Rio Grande City, Texas. They married on the 3rd of June 1951 in Hidalgo County and then moved to Chicago, Illinois. They raised six sons (Rogelio, Thomas, Ruben, Rene, Roberto, and Ricardo). Two years before the birth of her last son Ricardo, Angelica gathered her five boys and left Chicago in the spring of 1965 bound to Edinburg, Texas on a Grey Hound Bus leaving behind her husband who was working towards his retirement with United States Steel Corporation (USS). She thought that Chicago proved to be too much for her boys. She wanted a simpler life near her family. Since then, Angelica has been a lifelong resident of Edinburg. In 1971, Angelica became a naturalized citizen and paraded around the Hidalgo County Court House waving the American Flag. She was preceded in death by her former spouse, Tomas Arce (1999); beloved son Rene Arce (2015); parents Gregorio (1982) and Julia De Leon Cortez (1992); her half-sister Carmela Cortez; her half-sister Enedelia Garza Torres (2004); Argelia C. Chapa (2004); her-half brother Pedro Garza (1992); Aguilabel Cortez (2006); and recently Gloria Yolanda Munoz (2021). Left behind to eternally treasure her memory are her devoted sons; Rogelio (Dominga), Thomas (Susana), Ruben, Roberto (Claudia) and Ricardo (Dalia) Arce. Her legacy continues with eighteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Angelica is also survived by her sisters; Emma C. Lopez, Oralia C. Ramirez, Graciela C. Quintana, Maricela C. Iglesias and Alma C. Delgado including numerous nieces and nephews, sisters-in-laws and brother-in-laws. Angelica loved to work, cook and dance. She was the life of the party. She would make her family and friends laugh and forget their worries. She was loved by so many. She always knew how to brighten someone's day by making them laugh and make them feel loved. She was always very active. One of her favorite hobbies was sewing. She made hand-crafted blankets and baby clothing accessories. Her passion for creativity for this talent was well known by many. Angelica took upon her the name of Jesus Christ and was baptized on the 11th of November 1984. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For numerous years, she taught in Primary and was a ministering sister to many. She was an active member in Relief Society providing relief to those in need. Collaborating with the church, she hosted used clothing distributions from her home to help the less fortunate. She received her endowments in 1998 at the Dallas Texas Temple and maintained a current Temple Recommend "Mom, you are such a character that words cannot give you justice. You are the epitome of loyalty, courage, strength, willfulness, dependability, honesty and self reliance. You helped many without hesitation or expectations. You are kind, loving and funny to all who knew you. You will always be the most influential person in our lives, Mom, there are no goodbyes for us. Where you are, you will always be in our hearts." a) Viewing services will be held on Saturday, the 12th of February 2022, between the hours of 8 am to 12 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located at 401 S. Jackson Rd., Edinburg, Texas 78539. b) Funeral services will be held on Saturday, the 12th of February 2022 between the hours of 1 pm to 2:30 pm at the same church building. c) Interment services will then follow, via an escorted procession, at 2:45 pm, to Hillcrest Memorial Park, 1701 E. Richardson Rd. Edinburg, Texas 78542 for final words, “Dedication of the Grave," and live Mariachi music. d) Dinner is between 4:30 pm to 6 pm at the church building for surviving sons, their families, aunts & uncles, and special guest. Pallbearers will be her sons Thomas, Roberto and Ricardo and her grandsons Thomas IV, Jesse and Estevan. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandsons Daniel, Samuel and her great grandsons Nicolas and Cristian. “Families can be together forever, through Heavenly Father's plan”. We thank The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for their continued support and love during our brightest and darkest days. Memories of Angelica may be shared at www.legacy.com Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Marc Gonzalez and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Legacy Chapels Funeral Home at 4610 S. Jackson Rd., Edinburg, Texas 78539, (956) 618-5900.