H.R. No. 1317
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Countless lives were touched by the kindness and
generosity of Elizabeth Mendoza of San Antonio, who passed away on
December 16, 2014, at the age of 52; and
WHEREAS, The daughter of Roger and Ora Roel, the former
Elizabeth Roel was born in San Antonio on May 16, 1962; she
graduated from Highlands High School in 1980, and on February 14 of
the following year, she exchanged wedding vows with Raul Mendoza;
the couple shared a rewarding marriage of nearly 35 years and became
the parents of three children, Jason, Matthew, and Timothy; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Mendoza worked in her parents' restaurant and
ran her own small business before opening Highlands Cafe, which she
operated alongside her brother, Ray; the diner drew many loyal
customers from the community, and Ms. Mendoza and her sons
developed a warm rapport with their neighbors while delivering care
packages of food; eventually, she left the cafe and joined the staff
of the Bonham Elementary School cafeteria; and
WHEREAS, This cherished woman was a member of the Gold Star
Mother's Association and the VFW Post No. 76 Marine Corps
Committee; in 2008, after the tragic loss of one of her sons, USMC
Sergeant Matthew Elias Mendoza, in Afghanistan, she reached out to
help other marines and their families by volunteering with the
Wounded Warrior Project at the San Antonio Military Medical Center;
during the hours she spent there, she offered compassion and
comfort to service members in the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine
Regiment, 1st Marine Division, many of whom came to regard her as a
second mother; and
WHEREAS, While the life of Elizabeth Mendoza ended far too
soon, those who were fortunate enough to know her will forever carry
her memory close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Elizabeth Mendoza
and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her
husband, Raul Elias Mendoza; to her son, Timothy Lee Mendoza; to her
grandchildren, Matthew I. Mendoza and Brooke Leann Mendoza; to her
mother, Ora Roel; to her brother, Roger Roel; to her sisters,
Belinda Peterson, Susie Rodriguez, and Ora Lee Roel; and to her
other relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Elizabeth
Mendoza.
Martinez Fischer
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1317 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 9, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House