Minerva Lerma

Minerva Lerma of Abilene passed away peacefully on October 14, 2025 at the age of 81. A visitation will be 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 Hwy 277 South. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, on Friday, October 17, 2025 in the Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park.

She was born in Cerralvo, Nuevo León Mexico on March 31, 1944 to parents Merced Garcia Hinojosa and Concepcion Molina Garcia. She was one of 8 siblings and grew up in a very different generation where respect for others and a hard work ethic were a must to move forward and survive. She helped maintain her family's household with jobs at a young age...which in turn did not allow her to finish school. She married Faustino Lerma Jr in 1967 and was together with him for 55 years until the time of his death in 2022. Minerva was a homemaker the entire time she was married to Faustino. She raised, cared for, nurtured, protected and LOVED their 5 children! As her kids started having their own children, she was so ever present in all of their lives as well. When her grandchildren started to have their own babies too, they wanted Grandma Lerma to help in the process of raising them as she had done before, in raising THEM.

Minerva was a selfless giver. It was in her nature to always provide you with a little something every single time she came to visit. Every trip ever taken with her included numerous bags full of clothing, perfumes, toiletries, toys ...and PECANS! She had an obsession with picking pecans! But the most important gift she ever gave to everyone was that of HERSELF! Always present, always loving & supportive and always willing to help you when you needed it the most. Her physical absence will leave a dent in our hearts so huge, that it might just be nearly impossible to ever repair. Her legacy will continue to flourish and grow with each passing day. Minerva is survived by her loving children Luis Lerma (wife Annette), Elia Smithson (husband Bob), Minerva Milne (husband John), Norma Lerma and Faustino Lerma III. She also leaves behind 15 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years Faustino Lerma Jr, parents Merced Garcia Hinojosa & Concepcion Molina Garcia, sisters Olga Cardenas and Irma De Anda & brother Merced (Tito) Garcia. May her sweet soul rest in eternal peace and join all her loved ones that went before her.