Maria Treviño, affectionately known as ‘Mother Teresa of Falfurrias,' celebrated 100th birthday

Maria Treviño celebrated her 100th birthday on March 13 at Sacred Heart Parish Hall in Falfurrias.

Maria Lemus-Treviño has spent a life-time putting others' needs before her own; so much so that her good works earned her the affectionate nickname of "The Mother Teresa of Falfurrias." On March 13 she became the center of attention as friends, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, gathered to surround her with the love she has always given to them and to celebrate her life— all 100 years of it — at Sacred Heart Parish Hall in Falfurrias. She was overcome by emotion and wiped a tear from her eye as she was met by a wave of applause as she walked into the filled hall. But her tears soon gave way to a smile. "I don't feel a day over 60," she said. Maria's nickname, "Mother Teresa," is well-earned. She is mother to many throughout Falfurrias, 8 of which are her own children. She is also a Eucharistic Minister, bringing Communion to the sick and homebound. She hosts a rosary recitation in her home every week, leads the rosary at funeral services and brings a home-cooked meal to grieving families. At the age of 97, she participated in a County Relay for Life Cancer Awareness event by walking a lap around the football field. It all began when Maria de los Remedios Eduvijes Lemus was born on March 13, 1910 to Mauricio and Carlota Guzman Lemus in Yuriria, Gto. Mexico. She was the oldest of six children. At the age of 13, Maria came with her parents to Falfurrias, Texas, where her father, Mauricio, worked as a dairy hand at the Cabeza Blanco Dairy Ranch owned by Leonardo Villarreal. She attended public school in Falfurrias, entering primary grade school at the age of 16. Within three months from the start of her public education, she was sent to the eighth grade. She learned basic English and at the end of her third month of school, was told there was no other grade for her to be promoted to because she had previously graduated from High School in Mexico. During this time, she helped the family financially by working as a waitress at "Dandy's Restaurant," a business owned by Leonardo Villarreal. That was only the beginning of her many occupations. From the age of 17 to 18, she worked as a housekeeper, cook and nanny for the Bennett Family at Las Palmas Ranch. At age 18 she returned to Mexico to bring her younger sister, Jesusa, back to Falfurrias (Jesusa had stayed with their grandparents in Mexico when the family first came to Texas). When she returned from Mexico in the early part of 1928, she worked for a Dr. McGuire, a Falfurrias physician, as his on-the-job-training medical assistant. For 8 years and four months (1928-1936), Maria worked as a housekeeper, cook, bookkeeper, bill collector, janitor and, often times, as a medical assistant for a Dr. Russell, earning the prestigious salary of $8.00 per week, of which she gave $6.00 to her parents to help with the family finances. Maria married Florentino Galindo Trevino, a widower with six children, on December 29, 1935. December 11, 1936 through February 11, 1952 she gave birth to nine children. Maria served as the first woman bailiff for a very high profile murder trial in Falfurrias held in the late 1950's. During the late 1940s to the late 1950s, while working at the store, Maria bartered with the Ursuline nuns of the Sacred Heart Parish School in Falfurrias in exchange for the tuition of her eight children. She would take fresh meat, eggs and dairy products from the ranch and in the 1960s, she would cook and deliver noon meals to the nuns during school days. She would also drive the nuns to their doctor's appointment and other places. Maria was also a Charter member of the Brooks County Hospital Ladies Auxiliary established in the mid-1950's until the hospital closed down in the mid 1990s. She is a Charter and active member of the Monday Night Rosary Crusade established in the mid 1980s. Rosaries are still held at her home every Monday night. In October of 2002, Maria was the recipient of the 12th annual Caller-Times/KRIS Channel 6 Jefferson Volunteer Awards in recognition for her service as a Eucharistic Minister for her parish. Throughout these many years, Maria has brought consolation to grieving families by her compassionate recitation of the Holy Rosary at funeral services. She also kept a custom of providing a family with a home-cooked meal during their time of bereavement. Maria is a cancer survivor having been diagnosed for stomach cancer when she was 93 years old. Three fourths of her stomach was removed but she needed no chemo or radiation treatments and was driving again one month after her surgery. At the age of 97, Maria participated in the first Brooks County Relay for Life Cancer Awareness fundraiser event held in June of 2007. She walked a full lap around the football field track without the aid of a cane or walker—just her granddaughter's arm! Maria has 18 grandchildren, 13 step-grandchildren, and 2 deceased grandchildren. She also has 21 great grandchildren, numerous step-great grandchildren, and one deceased great grandchild. She also has numerous step-great great grandchildren. She has served as a Eucharistic Minister since 1984 and is also in charge of scheduling the Ministers of the Cup for the 8:00 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Church. She pledges to continue to be a Eucharistic Minister until she can no longer walk or drive. At age 100, Maria Lemus Treviño is still driving her 1988 standard Ford Festiva and drives herself most every day to church. She also drives herself to the Alaniz Showbarn Senior Citizen Center for their daily lunch program. She still cooks, sews, reads, gardens and continues to deliver communion to several sick and homebound parishioners. Maria feels that the secret to her longevity is the continuance of her mission to the service of God as a Eucharistic Minister . . . and eating hot chili sauce everyday with her meals!