With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Irma I. Leal Cavazos. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on May 3, 2025, at the age of 73.
She was born November 23, 1951 in Brownsville, Texas to her beloved parents, Leonel M. Leal and Margarita Cantu Leal. She graduated from Brownsville High in 1971 and attended Texas Southmost College. She was an employee of the TSC Arnulfo Oliveira Library and the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College from 1987 until she retired in 2013. During her years of employment, she was known and highly respected for her integrity, excellent organizational skills, and promptness in helping faculty and staff. She created countless friendships along the way.
On December 16, 1972, she married the love of her life, Alfonso Cavazos, to whom she was married for 22 years. Irma was a proud, supportive, and dedicated mother to her daughters, Mel Cavazos and Debbie Cavazos, a beloved mother-in-law to Damien Escobar, and an extraordinary grandmother who went above and beyond for her pride and joy, Connor Cavazos.
She was also a cherished sister to Alma G. Leal, Mary Haidee Leal, and Nydia D. L. Canas. She is survived by her daughters, Mel Cavazos and Debbie Cavazos (Damien Escobar), her grandson, Connor Cavazos, her sisters, Alma G. Leal, Mary Haidee Leal, and Nydia D. L. Canas (Carlos), her nephews and nieces, Jonathan Melendez (Alexa), Jeremy Melendez (Amanda), Enrico Canas (Sasha), and Jean-Luc Canas (Holly), great nieces Zoe Melendez and Amali Melendez and her cats, Boris and Baby.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfonso Cavazos, her parents, Leonel M. Leal and Margarita Cantu Leal, her grandparents, Rosa S. Cantu, Eugenio Cantu, and Maria Raquel (Mani) Delgado, great grandmother, Cruzita Salazar and her cats, Rio, Borina, Pickles and Eddie.
Irma will be remembered for her sense of humor, her unwavering support to her family, her strong will, her delicious home cooked meals, the love she had for animals, especially her cats and the many rescues she cared for and gave a second chance at life. She enjoyed many fun and exciting cruise adventures with her family to Alaska, the Caribbean and Europe. A devout Catholic, she loved attending the Saturday evening Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with her grandson, Connor.
Her legacy will live on in the hearts of those she touched. A Celebration of Life and visitation will be held Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. A Memorial Mass officiated by Father Francisco Acosta will be celebrated the following Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, located at 1200 Lincoln Street, Brownsville, TX.
All who knew and loved her are invited to attend to honor her memory. The family would like to thank Father Francisco Acosta of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, the staff at both Valley Regional and Valley Baptist Hospitals, and family and friends who visited, called, and texted her these past seven months. Your constant support and prayers meant a lot to her and to her family.
“We do not have to rely on memories to recapture the spirit of those we have loved and lost—they live within our souls in some perfect sanctuary which even death cannot destroy.” Nan Witcomb
Services are under the guidance of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory & Flower Shop. 657 Springmart Blvd., Brownsville, Texas. (956) 350-8485
To send flowers or a plant to the family in the memory of Mrs. Irma I. Leal Cavazos., please visit https://didisflowershop.com/shop or call (956) 455-3718.
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