Obituary of Ella Armandina Soza

Ella Armandina Chapa Soza, age 89, was called to the arms of our Heavenly Father on Monday, September 11, 2017. Ella was the daughter of Benigo Chapa and Teresa Garcia Chapa.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Antonio "Tony" Leonel; her daughters, Nanette Y. Sookiasian and husband, Rick F., and Nelda E. Soza; her grandson, Daniel Antonio Soza and wife, Rayne; granddaughter, Victoria Anne Sookiasian; great granddaughters, Eliana Catherine and Adelyn Lee Soza; daughter-in-law, Imedla Soza; sister, Delia Guerra and husband, Jesus; sister-in-law, Corina Chapa, numerous nieces, nephews, other loving family and friends. Ella was preceded in death by her son, Edward Lee, and her parents.

Ella was born August 27, 1928, in Salineno, Starr County, Texas.  The family later moved to Roma, Texas, where she was raised and attended school through the eleventh grade.  She attended her senior year and graduated from Rio Grande City High School, Rio Grande City, Texas.

In her early life, Ella was employed by the United States Post Office in Roma and then worked for Ramirez Dry Goods Store.  She was working for Gonzalez Mercantile when she married her school mate and dear friend, Tony on June 28, 1953.  Since Tony was serving in the Armed Forces at the time, the marriage took Ella from her close knit family in Roma to a whirlwind of travels and residing in different places throughout the United States and abroad.  Tony and Ella raised three children.  Being a stay-at-home mother, she was a vivid example of devoting her energy and attention to caring for her family.  She was equally devoted to her faith.  While at different locations, she served in the Roman Catholic Ministries and taught childrens' cathecism classes.

After the family's twenty-six years in the Armed Forces, Austin, Texas became the family home.  Living in Austin, Ella was employed by Yarings as a department manager until her retirement in 1997.  In her senior years, Ella devoted her time to gardening, keeping an immaculate yard with abundant colorful flowers.  This was accompanied by her devotion to feeding wild birds of many species in the backyard that, to her joy, looked like a bird sanctuary.

Visitation will begin at 5;00 p.m., Friday, September 15, 2017 with Recitation of Holy Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m., Mission Funeral Home - South Side, 6204 S. First St., Austin, Texas.  Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 16, 2017, St. Ignatius Martyr Church, 126 W. Oltorf St., Austin, Texas.  Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery.