ANITA BUENTELLO MENDOZA was born in Taylor, Tx on Dec. 2,
1928 to Crescencio & Cecilia Buentello. She entered Heaven’s
gates on Jan. 9, 2017, with interment at Crown Hill Memorial
Park in Dallas.
Anita was the consummate mother, sister and grandmother. Her
happiest moments involved being encircled with the love she
felt from her family and friends.
Her humble and jovial childhood was shattered with the untimely
death of her father, Crescencio. His death set in motion a
lifelong desire to take care of and protect those closest to
her. Her love sparkled when she met her beloved, Ruben. Later
in life, she would say about meeting him, “he was the handsomest
young man in the room.”
After their marriage, her life soon filled with the pitter patter
of children. She commented, “My life’s meaning became clear with
the birth of Lucy.” Along with the joys of young love & motherhood,
Anita, also took care of her father-in-law, Manuel, until his death.
After his death, the young family packed up, moved to Dallas with
the hopes of a bigger and better life. Soon, afterwards, Manuel
and Roy joined Lucy to complete the family.
Those early years in Dallas brought each of her siblings to her.
Jokingly, she would say, “my home was a halfway house for my
brothers and sisters.” She knew they wanted to see the “big
city” but loved the fact she had an opportunity to take care
of them before they launched their lives. After nine years,
God blessed her with another set of children. First, Olga,
then, Ruben Jr. and finally her special angel, David. With
the addition of the newest members came the need for a bigger
house. Across Dallas they moved from west to east.
Life continued as her first set of children ventured into
their own lives and the younger ones were finishing their
education. Her days were filled with work and her nights
were filled with dancing. Later in life she volunteered,
assisted various church organizations, traveled, danced,
shopped and doted on her grandchildren. Her happiness grew
with each new addition to the family.
Anita joins a choir of angels waiting for her. She was
preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ruben, her sons,
Manuel, Roy and David, her parents, her brothers, Richard,
Robert, and Henry, and her sisters Angela and Amelia. We
know they welcomed her with open arms.
Anita is survived by her daughters, Lucy Kidwell and Olga
Bullard and her son, Ruben Mendoza, Jr. Her legacy lives
on through her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and
great-great-grandchildren.