Elisa Ortegon

Our beloved Elisa Canales Ortegon, age 84, of Menard, Texas, went to be with the Lord on Monday, November 10, 2025, in Menard, surrounded by her loving children. Elisa was born on October 28, 1941, in Uvalde, Texas, to Florencio Canales and Guadalupe (Burnato) Canales. From her humble beginnings, she learned early the values that would define her life: hard work and the joy of life's simple moments growing up in Uvalde. At the age of fifteen, she married the love of her life, Raymond S. Ortegon, on July 18, 1957, in Menard. They moved to Menard, beginning a lifelong partnership built on faith, devotion, and laughter. Together they raised five children and created a home filled with love, warmth, and the smell of something always cooking on the stove.

For decades, Elisa made her home in Menard, where she poured her heart into caring for her family and friends. Her kitchen was the heart of her home always alive with conversation, music, and the comforting aroma of her famous recipes. Her tamales and pecan pie became family traditions, lovingly passed down through generations. No one ever left her home hungry or without feeling loved. Elisa had a true gift for sewing and could mend, stitch, and create just about anything with a needle and thread. She loved her community and the friendships she built through the years, especially those made at Club Victoria and Bingo nights, where her laughter and quick wit could fill a room. She found joy in life's quiet moments like sitting outside on cool fall mornings, picking pecans, or enjoying a sweet treat such as a strawberry milkshake. She loved going for drives, especially through the "big city" of Menard, and treasured every visit from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Elisa's greatest joy came from being "Granny." She leaves behind nine grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom filled her life with light, laughter, and love. To know Granny was to know love, strength, tradition, and joy. She leaves behind a legacy of faith, laughter, and the kind of love that will live on in every meal shared, every story told, and every memory held dear. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Menard.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Elisa Ortegon will be held at 11:00am Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Menard. Interment will follow at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Menard. Friends may view Elisa's Memorial Video Tributer and/or sign her online memorial guest book at www.leatherwoodmemorialchapels.com. Pallbearers will be Hector Martinez, Andre Martinez, Tony Ortegon, Jr., Nieves Ortegon, Andrea Guevara, and Hector Guevara. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dustin Hodges, April Hodges, and Ryan Graham.

Elisa is survived by her sons Anthony Ortegon and wife Anna of Pflugerville, Texas, and Raymond Ortegon and wife Sabrina of Kerrville, Texas; daughters Rosie Velasquez and husband Sonny of Menard, Texas and Susie Martinez of Menard, Texas; six grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband Raymond Ortegon, her eldest daughter Norma Ortegon, two brothers and five sisters. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Menard Manor and the Hill Country Preferred Hospice Care Team for the loving care, compassion, and kindness they provided to Elisa and her family in her final days.

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