Maria Lourdes Luna

1958 - 2020

ODESSA - In the loving arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, rests our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Maria Lourdes Luna. Surrounded by her loving family, Maria passed away peacefully in Odessa, Texas on December 24, 2020 at the age of 62.

She was born on December 18, 1958, in Marfa, Texas, to Ruben T. Estrada and Socorro O. Estrada. On October 17th, 1981, in Odessa, Texas, she united in marriage to the love of her life, Jesus Manuel Luna and to this unification were born three beautiful children.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ruben T. Estrada.

She is survived by her loving mother Socorro O. Estrada of Odessa; devoted Husband of 39 years Jesus Manuel Luna; eldest daughter Marina Jessica Luna of Odessa; middle son, Jesus Manuel Luna Jr. and wife Alyssa of Midland; and youngest daughter Micaela Jasmine Muniz and husband Joel, of Odessa; sisters Linda Estrada of Odessa and Teresa Juarez and husband Tito of Houston, Texas; brothers Ubaldo Estrada and Ruben Humberto Estrada of Odessa; her beloved grandchildren, Leila, Joaquin, Lola, Alilyah, and Joel Jr.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Maria was a scholar in Education and dedicated 39 years of her life to academics. In 1981, Maria graduated from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin with a bachelor's degree in Education. In 1997 she graduated from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas with a master's degree in Reading. After many years as an educator, she then pursued her certification through Region 19 as a Library Media Specialist.

She was employed through ECISD for 37 years, all of which were dedicated to her beloved school, Burleson Elementary where Mrs. Luna was the school's librarian. She believed in the power of reading, and she was passionate about her job. She wanted success for each one of her students. She took pride in her school and was always eager to help. She loved her job, she loved her colleagues, but most of all she loved her students. She led the Spelling Bees and Blue Bonnet programs. She was very active in the Parent-Teacher Association and she felt the success of her children started with their parents. Mrs. Luna was on the road to retirement, but anyone who knew her, knows she would have continued as the librarian long after her retirement year.

Maria was a devout Catholic and a member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church for 37 years. She was a true woman of faith and believed God wanted us to always give back. Maria and Manuel were Eucharistic Ministers, Lecturers, and all-around members of their home church. They were exceptional volunteers and loved to provide their God-given time and talents to the church. Maria's profession led her to teach Catechism, First communion classes, and vacation bible study during the summer.

Maria's hobbies included reading. She understood the advancements in technology, but she found true joy in checking out books from the public library. Maria was proud of her family. She loved her husband Manuel, and she was a devoted and loving wife. She loved to tell people about her husband and all the beautiful gifts he had built for her over the years. Maria was very loving and nurturing to her children, while her grandchildren were her most blessed treasures. She was an amazing Grandmother and her favorite people called her "Nana".

Maria will be truly missed by everyone. She was intelligent, poised, compassionate, humble, but most of all she was loved. The Luna and Estrada Family would like to take this time to express our utmost gratitude to each and everyone of you for the prayers, calls, texts, food, and all the offerings during this difficult time. A special gratitude goes out to Medical Center Hospital, Continued Care Hospital, Dr. Khavar Dar, and her loving brother Ubaldo Estrada R.N., for all your wonderful loving care given to our wife, and mother.

A rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. on December 30, 2020 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. Visitation will follow the rosary. Mass will be celebrated Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. Interment is to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praised her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all"

Proverbs 31: 28-29