Maria Mancha, 89, of San Benito, Texas, went to be with God on November 28, 2013. Maria and her late husband Santos were lifetime residents of San Benito. She loved reading the word of God, sewing, gardening, taking walks, and dancing. Maria lived with her younger sister Lala the last seven years after becoming a widow. They became good friends and companions, traveling to Cozumel, Mexico on a cruise, and visiting her sister Josefina in Galveston during the holidays and special occasions. Maria was an avid sports fan, often attending her great nephew Matthew's soccer tournaments with her big sister Antonia and niece Lidia. She enjoyed the time she spent at Sunglo Adult Daycare where she made many friends prior to her illness. Maria was a very private person with a great sense of humor who loved laughing and appreciated peaceful times. She will be missed dearly. She was preceded in death by her husband, Santos Mancha; her parents: Cristina Gutierrez and Gerardo Hernandez; and her brother, Teodoro Hernandez. She is survived by her siblings: Rafaela "Lala" Jackson of San Benito, Josefina Benton of Galveston, Texas, Antonia Zapata of Harlingen, Texas, and Francisco Hernandez of Brownsville, Texas. Also surviving her are her nieces and nephews: Lety (Mike Travis) Barguiarena of San Benito, Cristina Benton, Imelda (Ralph) Mendoza, Irasema (Otoniel) Diaz de Leon of Galveston, Texas, Josie Whately of Edinburg, Lidia Zapata and Felix (Irma) Zapata of Harlingen, Dominga (Ernesto) Ortega of Brownsville, as well as several other nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 2, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a holy rosary to be recited by the Catholic Daughters of America at 7:00 p.m., at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito. Mass of resurrection will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church with Father Isaac Erondu officiating. Interment will follow at San Benito City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are: Michael Travis, Joe Barguiarena, and Francisco Ortega. Special thanks to Dr. Kotta and staff for their great care and compassion, and many thanks to her caretakers, Olga and Maria Araguz, Sandra Cano, and Agapita Hernandez. You may sign the online guestbook and send words of comfort, flowers, or sympathy cards to the family of Maria Mancha at: www.thomaegarza.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.