McALLEN — Elida F. Cantu, a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 23, 2022. Elida was born in 1927 in the town of Guardado de Abajo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and lived a beautiful life of 95 years. She married Guadalupe Cantu on October 18, 1947. Together, Elida and Guadalupe migrated and worked towards creating a better future for their three children. Their family values of hard work, education, and generosity were seen throughout their lives.
Elida and her husband Guadalupe started their own business known today as Cantu Construction Company. Elida’s most important goal and priority was to ensure that her children received a good education to assure them a better life. She was ambitious and hardworking. After the age of 60, she taught herself to drive and speak English so that she could get her driver’s license. One of her most fulfilling moments of her life was becoming a US Citizen.
She loved to travel to Las Vegas and gamble. Her love for travel took her to great cities and countries around the world such as Rome, Austria, Germany, Spain and many cities across Mexico including Cabo San Lucas. Elida’s generosity was heartfelt and appreciated by her construction workers. She leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work and many beautiful memories.
Elida was predeceased in death by her parents, Cruz Falcon and Aurelia Guerrero Falcon; her husband, Guadalupe Cantu: her daughter, Hilda C. Garza (Fidel); her siblings, Ernestina Falcon, Raul Falcon, Emma F. Garcia and Oscar Falcon.
She is survived by her daughter, Elvia Cantu Saenz (Jesus); her son, Alonzo Cantu (Yolanda); her grandchildren, Mark Garza, Daniel Saenz (Norma), Dr. Andres Saenz (Dr. Annalisa), Allysa Cantu, Alexis Cantu and one great-grandson, Joseph Saenz.
Services were held on Thursday, August 25, 2022. A funeral mass was held on Friday, August 26, 2022, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church with interment to follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission.
Pallbearers will be Mark Garza, Daniel Saenz, Dr. Andres Saenz, Oscar Falcon, Jr., Christopher Castillo, and Juan Cantu. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jesus Saenz, Joseph Saenz, Fidel Garza, Agustin Castillo, Jose Paz, Manuel Saldivar, Jr., Ismael Rodriguez and Rudy Elizondo. All COVID guidelines will be observed.
The family would like to express its sincerest gratitude to: Dr. Salil Mangi, Dr. Jose F. Vallejo-Manzur, Dr. Victor Haddad, Dr. Jayanth K. Lakshmikanth, Dr. Javier Saenz, Dr. Carlos Garcia Cantu, Dr. Alvaro Restrepo, Dr. Samuel Serna, Dr. Mario Moya, Dr. Juan D. Posada, and all nurses and staff at DHR Health.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a memorial donation be made to the Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS). Memorial donations can be made online at vamosscholars.org and click on ‘Donate Today’ or can be mailed at 800 N. Main St., Suite 410, McAllen, Texas 78501.
