It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Andrea G. Benavides on Thursday, May 1, 2025.  Born on March 18, 1936 to loving parents, Mr. and Mrs. Julio and Cristina Castillo-Garcia. As the only child to a widowed mother she came from humble means.

She was a graduate of Edgewood High School in 1956. While in high school she started out as a waitress at a local diner and worked various jobs.  After graduation, she landed a job at Fort Sam Houston as a data entry clerk where she worked her entire career until she retired in 1987.

Andrea loved reading, writing, going to dances, traveling with friends and family throughout Mexico, and spending time with cousins and caring for her younger relatives.  She met her future husband, Mario, in the mid 60's. Mr. and Mrs. Mario Benavides were parishioners at St. Paul's Catholic Church in San Antonio, TX, where they married in 1976.  After her husband passed away in 1985, Mrs. Benavides was determined to give her daughter every opportunity that was not afforded to her. As a resilient widow, she worked very hard to provide Cristina with an education, and was very proud of her daughter's accomplishments both as a teacher and an artist. Andrea also had a very close and loving relationship with her mother, Cristina Garcia. She spent many years caring for her, until her passing in 1995.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Julio Garcia & Mrs. Cristina Castillo-Garcia, her husband, Mario Orlando Benavides. She is survived by her one and only daughter, Cristina Isabel Benavides.

Rosary to be held at Castillo Funeral Home Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 6pm.

Funeral Mass to be held at St. Paul's Catholic Church Friday, May 23 at 9:30 am.

Graveside Service at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 11:30 am.