Obituary of Mary Louise Castellon Hernandez

Mary Louise Castellon Hernandez, age 85, left this earth on 29 April 2024 in Melbourne, Florida. The love, humor, and unconditional support she extended to family and friends created the strongest bonds that will always remain in our hearts. Her warmth and compassion are so strong, she can still be felt and will always be cherished by those who were fortunate enough to be in her orbit. Family was her priority and her matriarchal status and strength have ensured a prosperous and loving future for her progeny. A self-taught cook, her delicious home-cooked meals sometimes included the opportunity to spend time in the kitchen with her to learn how to make her most coveted recipes. Homemade tortillas, pies (crusts from scratch), neckbones, chicken soup, mole, cream puffs, and buñuelos were a few of her specialities. In her youth, Mary enjoyed playing sports and passing time with her siblings. As an adult, Mom enjoyed reading, cooking for others, socializing, coloring, and watching children play. Mary, or “Mom” as she was lovingly known by so many, was born and spent her younger years in Coffeyville, Kansas before her family relocated to Topeka, Kansas. She was employed at Ripley’s Dry Cleaning & Laundry as a young adult. Later, she married and relocated to San Antonio, Texas with her husband and gave birth to three children. In San Antonio, Mary volunteered at Vestal Elementary before becoming employed as a Teacher’s Aide at the Deaf/Blind Center in Harlandale Independent School District where she began her long career caring for children with special needs. In the early 1980s, she began work as a shift supervisor, providing direct care to developmentally disabled residents at the San Antonio State School, building 672, and retired after many years of service. Growing bored of retirement, she returned to caring for others at Parent-Child Incorporated at The Castle where she enriched many more young lives. She attended Holy Name Catholic Church in Coffeyville, KS, Saint Leonards Catholic Church in San Antonio, TX, and in her later years Resurrection of the Lord Catholic Church in San Antonio, TX and Ascension Catholic Church in Melbourne, FL. Mary Lou was born in Coffeyville, Kansas, on 10 December 1938. She is predeceased by her parents Isaac Flores Castellon and Marie Antonia Neria, her siblings Phillip Castellon, Mary Helen Castellon, John Castellon, Mary Helen Castellon, Leo Castellon, Paul Donald Castellon, Charles Castellon, Virginia Castellon, and Mary Teresa Castellon. She is survived by two siblings Steve Castellon of Topeka, KS and Mary Patricia Castellon (Hamilton) of Ft. Worth, TX, as well as by her three children Christina Hernandez (Jose Principe), Rachel Castellon (Jeffrey Mills), and Robert Hernandez. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Valerie Darling, Ian MacGregor, Jacklyn Hernandez, Kristin Jones, and Alyssa Hernandez and several great-grandchildren. In accordance with Mary Lou’s wishes, her ashes will be released in Coffeyville and Topeka, Kansas. A Celebration of Life, in San Antonio, Texas, and the Release of Ashes will occur in the Fall of 2024. Dates to be determined. For more information regarding arrangements, please contact the family at: inmemorymarylou@gmail.com