Consuelo Maldonado passed away peacefully on August 10, 2026, at the age of 103.

Connie was born on January 31, 1923, to George Borrego Sr. and Mercedes Bazan in Berclair, Texas. She was the last surviving sibling of five children, with two sisters and two brothers. Connie later made her home in Houston, Texas, where she lived with her daughter, Yolanda, and son-in-law, Ami.

After World War II, Connie married Frank Chapa, the brother of her best friend. They lived in Beeville, Texas, for seven years before moving to Corpus Christi, where Connie and Frank settled and raised their family.

Connie worked in retail for 30 years before retiring. During her time at Beall’s Department Store, she was recognized for having the highest sales in the Southern District. She proudly retired from Beall’s in 1988.

Connie loved spending time with her family, especially traveling and sharing special moments with those she loved. The little girl from Berclair traveled to Europe, cruising with her sister, Payo, and their personal guide, her daughter Sandra. During a family vacation to Alaska, her son Nick served as the designated driver, while Connie, as usual, took on the role of self-appointed backseat driver.

She especially enjoyed spending time with her great-grandchildren and loved having them read to her. She was always amazed by how easily they could operate her smart TV.

Connie was known for always having a smile on her face. Her outgoing personality and strong social skills allowed her to make friends easily and cherish those friendships throughout her life. After retirement, she joined a group of mall walkers. For nearly 20 years, she was up at 6 a.m. each morning to meet her walking group. After a couple of rounds of walking, talking, and laughing, the group would gather for breakfast at McDonald’s. Connie became known for her witty remarks and her “joke of the day.”

Although Connie did not particularly enjoy being out in the sun, she never wanted to be left out of a family adventure. At age 93, what was supposed to be a “short walk” by the sea turned into seven miles of walking through Stanley Park in Vancouver. While others stopped along the way to admire the views, Connie kept going. Her determination was simple: if she stopped, she was afraid she might not be able to finish.

Connie and Frank celebrated 25 years of marriage. Throughout her life, Connie experienced both joy and hardship, meeting each season with remarkable strength and grace.

In 1962, Connie was installed into the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Her Catholic faith was a source of strength, especially when Frank became seriously ill. Connie then became the sole provider for her children, doing everything she could to keep her family together and provide them with a loving home. She possessed a quiet strength and lifelong values that she passed down to her children, teaching them to face difficult days with courage, grace, faith, and a loving heart.

Connie loved to laugh and sing, and it was not unusual to hear her singing while doing housework. She was independent and self-reliant, yet she made her decisions with prayer, always asking God for guidance. Even in her final days, Connie began her bedtime prayers with the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in God, the Father almighty…”

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mercedes and George Borrego Sr.; her brothers, Oscar Borrego and George Borrego Jr.; her sisters, Lupita Tamayo and Amparo Torres; her beloved first husband, Frank; her second husband, Waldo Patterson; and her third husband, Tony Maldonado.

Connie is survived by her three children, Yolanda Gutierrez (Amador), Sandra Gonzales (Jim), and Nick (Risa); her grandsons, Frank and Gabriel Gutierrez (Jamie); and her great-grandchildren, Isaac, Alexander, and Amelia.

A Rosary will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 10 o’clock at Our Lady of Victory Church in Beeville, Texas, followed by a memorial mass at the same location with Most Reverand, James A. Tamayo, DD Bishop Emeritus, Diocese of Laredo, officiating.

Burial will follow at Our Lady of Victory #2 Cemetery.