Elida “Ellie†Rios was born on February 26, 1931 in Rio Hondo, Texas to parents, Felix and Ana Leal Zuniga. She passed away peacefully and joined her parents, first husband, Guadalupe “Lupe†Gomez, sister, Celia Salazar, brother, Eladio “Lalo†Zuniga to find eternal rest on May 12, 2020 at the age of 89.
Upon graduation from Hebbronville High School, Ellie married her first love, Lupe Gomez, an intelligent and well-mannered crop duster from San Pedro. The two made a life together in Los Fresnos, Texas with their two children, Dahlia “Dolly†and Gil. Ellie’s natural grace and glamour evolved into an entrepreneurial success when she opened Ellie’s Beauty Studio. Her passion as a hairdresser embraced a desire to help other women find strength in their beauty. These weekly visits to Ellie’s offered far more than just a trim or a style, she also offered insight, wisdom, and community to all the women she served.
In July of 1966, Lupe tragically died in a plane crash leaving Ellie widowed with two young children. Her strength and tenacity allowed her to overcome numerous challenges as a single mother. Despite these challenges, Ellie proudly put her two children through college as she continued to scale her beauty business.
One day, as fate would have it, she drove to the neighboring town of Brownsville for auto repairs. As she waited for her car, she walked to a nearby ice cream parlor for a treat. It was here that she met her second and final love, Rafael “Ralph†Rios, a high school coach and woodshop teacher in Brownsville. The two of them built a life around her beauty shop and his teaching career and grew old together in Los Fresnos; both serving their communities through service and leadership. Some of her commitments included the Los Fresnos Junior Service League, Los Fresnos Band Boosters, Mr. Amigo Association, Sembradores Unidos, Alambras, Eucharistic Minister at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, and a member of the Red Hat Society.
Ellie led a long, rich, and storied life. Her legacy and memory as a wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, businesswoman, and friend will live on in the stories her loved ones share. She is survived by her daughter, Dolly (Mike) Zimmerman, son Gil (Jerri) Gomez, and stepdaughter, Rosario (Leroy) Hatley; grandchildren, Heidi (Sean) Mulroony, Veronica (Christopher) Mojica, Hans (Cat Conte) Zimmerman, Joel (Lauren) Gomez, Lilvia Gomez, Giana (Beau) Hesterberg, and Erin Hatley; great-grandchildren, Liam and Atticus Mulroony, Alma and CJ Mojica, and Jack, Cecily, and Felicity Hesterberg; and her sisters, Anna Brown, Evelyn Baxter, and Ercilia Cano.
The family would like to acknowledge and honor the care Ellie received from her caregivers: Yvette Cano, Sabrina Charania, Martha Chavez, Ricky Flores, Teresa Lopez, and Brenda Ortega.
A memorial service in her honor will be scheduled later this summer. Your prayers and support for her family and loved ones are greatly appreciated at this time. Arrangements are under the direction of Sunset Funeral Home in Brownsville.
5 Comments
So sad to hear of Ellie’s death. She was such a beautiful person. I am so glad I have good memories of my friend. She was very special to me. She may be gone but will be in my heart always. Prayers go out to all of her family. The community has lost a very Special lady.
Lovely Lady will be missed by all who knew her. Rest in Peace.
Dolly, I just heard the news about your mom…want you to know she raised a fine daughter….I am thinking about u during this difficult time…Mike Fitzpatrick
Ellie was a very special aunt, she was like a second mother to me. When I left home to go to college she offered to let me stay with her and her kids for two years. Lupe had passed away that year and she was going through a very tough time, but that didn’t deter her from being kind and generous. I remember every Sunday we would go to church and then to Brownsville to eat at Luby’s. She always paid for my meals and even bought clothes for me when she shopped for Dolly. I graduated from college, got married and my husband joined the air force. When we came home to visit she welcomed me and my family and made us feel special. I will miss you dearly Ellie, and I’ll miss those late night calls, when you’d call just to talk and check on me.
Dolly and Gil,
My most heartfelt sympathy to both of you, my beloved cousins. I just now found out of your beautiful mother’s passing. May God bestow you both with the peace needed in this time of great loss.
My love and sympathy are with you!
Martha
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