Enriqueta Puente

Enriqueta (Queta) Puente was born in Kingsville, Texas on September 20, 1938 to Petra and Antonio Mendez II. She passed away on June 18, 2022.

Enriqueta and her husband, Ruben, married young and moved to Chicago, Illinois, where their 3 children, Rose, Liz, and David were born. After 20 years in Chicago, Enriqueta and her family moved to Pennsylvania then New York where they lived for over 20 years. Finally, they relocated to Sandia, Texas where she and her husband have lived the last 20 years.

When Enriqueta and Ruben first started out and didn’t have much, she never complained. She made sure that she took care of her family and fed them well. She was a very caring, funny, generous and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She always thought about others before herself and loved her children more than anything in the world.

She was also very proud of and spoiled her grandchildren. Her grandchildren would visit her in Texas where she would teach them how to become great bingo and poker players, cook for them to their hearts content, and make them laugh with her jokes and nicknames.

Enriqueta’s generosity was plentiful demonstrated by always looking out for others, even those she did not know. She was a regular at many local restaurants where staff would know her name and she could strike up a conversation with anyone.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Petra and Antonio Mendez II; sister, Elizabeth; brothers, Antonio III, Arturo, Rolando, and Rogelio.

Enriqueta is survived by her husband, Ruben; children, Rose (Philip), Elizabeth (Noel), and David; sisters, Olga and Angie; brother, Henry; grandchildren, Timothy, David Jr., Maria, Kayla, Katrina, and Nick; great-grandchildren, Olivia, Timothy Jr., Theodore, and Stella.

Visitation will be held at Sawyer-George Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, from 2pm-7pm; the Rosary recited at 7pm. Funeral Mass will be on June 29, 2022 at 10am at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Orange Grove, Texas. Graveside will follow at St. John of the Cross Cemetery.