Odilia D. Cerda

Odilia D Cerda passed away peacefully at home on November 24, 2023. She was born in Edinburg Texas, on July 7, 1932. An only child, by age 7, Odilia lost both her parents, Francisco Delgado and Maria Luisa Trejo. She was raised by her paternal grandparents, Amado Delgado and Margarita Villarreal, alongside with her father’s siblings, Apolinar, Sofia, Candelaria, Marta, Margarita and Isaura Delgado. Odilia attended the old Stephen F. Austin Elementary School and Edinburg Jr. High.She later went on to get her GED. In 1950, Odilia married Rumaldo Cerda, Jr. (deceased) January 21, 2001, and raised three daughters, Maria Luisa Cerda (deceased), Gerarda, husband Juan Dominguez, and Cristina,husband Rey Castellano. Three sons, Robert, wife Lana, Franciso, wife Dona, and Arnold, fiancé Letty Flores. She always spoke fondly of her in-laws, Rumaldo and Luciana Cerda, Sr. as they welcomed her into their family with open arms. In them, Odilia found the motherly and fatherly love that she always longed for. Luciana (Mama Chana) shared her love of cooking to Odilia and showed her how to cook delicious mexican food. She also learned to make beef jerky during deer season, tamales out of deer meat and pork and how to cook cabrito “guisado” or “en sangre”. Odilia had a hand written recipe book she kept with all her recipes and was willing to share with whomever wanted her recipes. She loved family get-togethers and loved seeing everyone enjoy her cooking. She was so proud to be part of the big Cerda Family God had blessed her with. During her husband’s campaigns for Constable of Hidalgo County, she helped cook in all the fundraisers and enjoyed seeing all the Cerda family, relatives and friends join in to help. Odilia was lovingly called Tia by everyone. She will be remembered for her smile and was loved by many and touched the lives of all who knew her. She enjoyed visits from her grandkids, great grandkids and all her nephews and nieces. She was so nurturing and would enjoy seeing them eat at the kitchen bar and converse about their day adventures. There was always food and homemade cookies, doughnuts or specialty cakes fresh out of the oven. During her last years, Odilia was gifted a baby doll, whom she simply adored. The baby was so key in allowing her to keep active and significantly benefited her mental, emotional, and physical health. Odilia was 91 years young at the time of her death. The family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Joel Solis and staff, McAllen Medical Hospital Doctors and staff, Opus Hospice and Heavenly Hospice staff, Father Greg and Deacon Silvestre García from St. Joseph Catholic Church for their constant care, love and support during Odilia’s illness. The family will receive guests on Wednesday November 29, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Kreidler Funeral Home in McAllen, Texas. A Holy Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. A mass for Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday,November 30, 2023 at 1:00 P.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 114 W Fay St, Edinburg, TX 78539. Interment will follow at 3:00 P.M. at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery 3601 N Taylor Rd., Mission, TX 78573. Pall-bearers will be her grandsons, John and Mark Dominguez, Frankie, Casey and Bobby Cerda and Robert Castellano.

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Odilia D. Cerda

November 24, 2023