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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Countless lives were touched by the kindness and |
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generosity of Elizabeth Mendoza of San Antonio, who passed away on |
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December 16, 2014, at the age of 52; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Roger and Ora Roel, the former |
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Elizabeth Roel was born in San Antonio on May 16, 1962; she |
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graduated from Highlands High School in 1980, and on February 14 of |
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the following year, she exchanged wedding vows with Raul Mendoza; |
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the couple shared a rewarding marriage of nearly 35 years and became |
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the parents of three children, Jason, Matthew, and Timothy; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Mendoza worked in her parents' restaurant and |
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ran her own small business before opening Highlands Cafe, which she |
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operated alongside her brother, Ray; the diner drew many loyal |
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customers from the community, and Ms. Mendoza and her sons |
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developed a warm rapport with their neighbors while delivering care |
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packages of food; eventually, she left the cafe and joined the staff |
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of the Bonham Elementary School cafeteria; and |
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WHEREAS, This cherished woman was a member of the Gold Star |
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Mother's Association and the VFW Post No. 76 Marine Corps |
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Committee; in 2008, after the tragic loss of one of her sons, USMC |
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Sergeant Matthew Elias Mendoza, in Afghanistan, she reached out to |
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help other marines and their families by volunteering with the |
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Wounded Warrior Project at the San Antonio Military Medical Center; |
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during the hours she spent there, she offered compassion and |
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comfort to service members in the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine |
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Regiment, 1st Marine Division, many of whom came to regard her as a |
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second mother; and |
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WHEREAS, While the life of Elizabeth Mendoza ended far too |
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soon, those who were fortunate enough to know her will forever carry |
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her memory close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Elizabeth Mendoza |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her |
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husband, Raul Elias Mendoza; to her son, Timothy Lee Mendoza; to her |
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grandchildren, Matthew I. Mendoza and Brooke Leann Mendoza; to her |
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mother, Ora Roel; to her brother, Roger Roel; to her sisters, |
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Belinda Peterson, Susie Rodriguez, and Ora Lee Roel; and to her |
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other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Elizabeth |
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Mendoza. |