Irene Vallejo Proper

Irene went to be with the Lord on Wednesday night, November 6, 2024, at 9:47 PM in her home in Bulverde, Texas. Irene was born in Fresnillo City, Zacatecas, Mexico on December 20, 1949, to Manuel Vallejo and Virginia Neri Vallejo. As a young child, Irene was exposed and suffered from rheumatic fever. The family moved to Nuevo Laredo during those early years. After her father’s death, and at a very early age, she became responsible over her siblings while her mother began working to support the family financially. In her early teens, Irene began working as a housekeeper for a private hotel/cottage business in Port Aransas TX. Irene attended primary, secondary and junior college in Mexico, and after moving to the United States, she educated herself by attending college and graduated from St Vrain Valley Schools in Longmont, Colorado.

In her adult life, Irene first worked as a teacher’s aide in Longmont Colorado. After moving to San Antonio TX in 1978, she was employed by the Levi Straus Company for several years, having achieved the level of instructor-trainer. From there Irene went back to school to study banking, and after graduating was immediately hired by Frost Bank where she worked in the Proof Department and the International Department.

Irene’s hobbies included quilting, sewing, embroidering, where she excelled in all endeavors. Her quilts earned awards and were highly sought. Among her other hobbies were dancing and exercising/Zumba. She also taught religious education in both English and Spanish for many years and devoted countless hours to numerous charities such as soup kitchens and feeding and clothing the homeless under the San Antonio bridges. She was also an avid “cruiser”.

Irene is survived by her husband: James Proper, her son Santos Manuel and wife Silvia; Alma Winslow and her husband Jeff, and Amy Carrillo and her husband Robert. She had 11 grandchildren: April and Ashley Vasquez, Nathan Alan DeLuna Fuentes, Roxanne McCracken (Travis), Alex (and Dafne), Anthony (and Mirella), and Amalia Trejo, Ricardo (and Melissa) and Victoria Weigold, Jesse (and Liliana) and Angel Vasquez. 17 Great GrandChildren: Alain Jacob DeLuna, Ethan, Kayla, and Mason McCracken, Elias, Eliana Trejo, Nathalie Hernandez Trejo, Areal, AJ, Alija, and Alisa Trejo, Isaac, Sammy, and Benny Trejo, Amelia and Loki Weigold, and Gracie Vasquez-Edwards. She also had blessed Great Great Grandchild, Ozzey.

Irene parents (Manuel and Virginia) preceded her in death. She had three sisters, Camerina, Guadalupe, and Teresa, and five brothers, Jose, Juan, Ramiro, Javier and Juan Dela Isla and Martin (who preceded her in death). She had two sisters-in-law: Ann Gold (and Jack) of Oil City PA, and Carolyn Martin (and David) of Franklin PA.