Sister Mary Lelia Aguilar OVISS

1932 - 2024

Corpus Christi - Sister Mary Lelia Aguilar, OVISS 91,

Sister Mary Lelia Aguilar (Dorina) was welcomed into eternal life by her loving God on Sunday, January 7, 2024. Born to Hilario and Herlinda Pena Aguilar on December 22, 1932, in Port Isabel, Texas, she was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Hilario Aguilar, Jr., and her sisters Guadalupe Lopez, Maria del Rosario Tamayo, and Evangelina, Leonor, Rafaela, Concepcion, Adelaida, and Emerita Aguilar. She is survived by nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Villa Maria High School, Brownsville, Texas, she entered the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament on September 2, 1952, and professed perpetual vows on August 17, 1958.

Sister received her B.A. degree from St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas. She earned a Master of Education degree from Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas.

Sister's years of ministry include teaching and school administration in parochial and private schools in the Archdiocese of San Antonio and the dioceses of Corpus Christi and Brownsville - Sacred Heart, Corpus Christi Cathedral, Incarnate Word Academy, Christ the King and St. Pius X in Corpus Christi, Our Lady of Victory in Beeville, and St. Luke's in San Antonio. Sister served as principal at Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus Christi, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Incarnate Word Academy, and Villa Maria High School in Brownsville, and Blessed Sacrament in Laredo.

From 1988-1998, Sister Lelia served as director of the annual A Little Bit of Mexico program, the cultural event introducing Brownsville's Charro Days, rich with life, color, and culture. Also, in 1988 she opened a small summer program to provide language classes to children in Brownsville and Matamoros, Mexico. It was a small endeavor that started in the Villa Maria High School Cafeteria. In 1992, Villa Maria Language Institute (VMLI) was formalized and occupied a building on campus year-round. Sister directed the Institute until her retirement from active ministry in 2007. VMLI continues to serve the community to this day.

In years past, Sister Mary Lelia served on commissions and committees of the Congregation and was involved in family care ministry in Brownsville. After retirement from active ministry, she was assigned to the Motherhouse in Corpus Christi in 2009.

Funeral arrangements will be provided by Maxwell P. Dunne Funeral Service. All services will be held at Incarnate Word Convent, 5201 Lipes Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX as follows:

Rosary: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, January 11, 2024

Mass of Christian Burial: 9:45 a.m., Friday, January 12, 2024

Burial: 11:30 a.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to "Incarnate Word Sisters Retirement Fund", Attention: Sister Annette Wagner, 5201 Lipes Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX 78413-5501.

Please visit Sister Mary Lelia's tribute page at www.maxwellpdunne.com to share memories and stories.