Maria del Socorro Irma Flores Lara de Beza

June 27, 1949 – February 9, 2025

On February 9, 2025, Heaven's gate opened to welcome Maria del Socorro Irma Flores Lara de Beza, a beloved soul who touched the lives of many with her copious kindness and love. Born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, on June 27, 1949, to Alvaro Flores Castro and Paulita Lara Rios, Maria was the second child in the Flores Lara family, along with her older sister Lucia Englantina (husband Santiago Peralta), her younger brother Manuel Alvaro Flores Lara, and her youngest sister Maria Teresa (husband Miguel Angel Guerrero). Her paternal grandparents were Ramon Flores and Petra Castro, and her maternal grandparents were Atanasio Lara and Paula Rios.

In her early academic years, Maria attended kinder, elementary, and middle school at El Colegio Mexico de Piedras Negras. She went on to attend high school at La Escuela de Bachilleres Fausto Z. Martinez. Maria pursued her professional career at the Universidad Autónoma de Piedras Negras (U.A.P.N.), where she earned a degree in Laboratorista, Quimico, Farmaco-Biologo (Laboratory technician, Chemist, Pharmaceutical Biologist). After graduating from U.A.P.N., Maria worked at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) in the laboratory area. During both her high school and university careers, Maria was crowned queen of her class, a testament to her love for people and the love they had for her. Maria later moved to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, where she studied in the foreign language department at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Leon. She mastered four languages: German, French, English, and Italian.

On June 27, 1975, Maria married Hector M. Beza, Sr., and together they had three children. After becoming a U.S. citizen, Maria and continued her education at St. Philip's College and San Antonio College, earning two associate degrees.  In 2002, Maria was honored as the Avance Mother of the Year. Alongside her husband, Maria also contributed to the community through various business ventures, including a Barbacoa Restaurant, Goyo Pollo Restaurant, and Azteca America Restaurant in Comfort, Texas. Her love for plants led Maria to volunteer as a docent at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, where her passion for plants and nature was evident through  the countless hours she spent educating visitors on the center's diverse horticulture collections, and nurturing and caring for the plant life. She worked several years at the Botanical Garden Gift Shop. During the latter years of her life, Maria found great satisfaction in serving as a Legal Assistant at the Beza Law Firm, where she held roles as a Notary and Accountant.

Maria was the embodiment of extraordinary kindness and compassion throughout her life and had a large circle of friends who remember her with love to this day.  Maria's friendships encompassed all aspects of life, and each was special to her. From chats on the phone to family outings, to sharing informal and formal meals, to adventures near and far. Maria considered her friendships as precious gardens, knowing that they needed nurturing, care, and attention to flourish and reap beautiful rewards. Maria's dedication to her friends was evident in the way she cultivated these relationships, always ready to lend a helping hand, share a laugh, or offer a shoulder to cry on. Her friendships blossomed into lifelong bonds, filled with love, joy, and mutual support.

Maria was a devoted Catholic and a member of the San Juan de los Lagos Parish and Shrine for over 45 years where she served as a member of the Spanish Choir and Guadalupanas.

Maria was a loving and devoted mother to Cynthia, Hector and Kimberly. She always felt the birth of her children changed her life for the better, and they certainly felt her pride and joy through the love and support she provided to each of them.

Maria was preceded in death by her parents, Alvaro Flores and Paulita Lara, her husband, Hector M. Beza, Sr., Her brother Manuel Alvaro Flores Lara, and her daughter Cynthia J. Beza.

She is survived by daughter Kimbery, son Hector (Anita), grandson Darian, and granddaughter Alana, her sisters Lucia Peralta and Maria Teresa Guerrero (Miguel), and many other family members and friends who will never forget the love and joy she brought to their lives, and the lessons of kindness, humility, and compassion which she instilled. Maria is also survived by her beloved four-legged grandchildren, Zackery, Kiara, Molly, Kennedy Marie, Clifford, Jackson, Lincoln, and Mia.

Maria's departure leaves a void in the hearts of her family and friends, but we find solace in knowing that she is now at peace, surrounded by the eternal beauty of Heaven. Those of us left behind will never forget her spirit of true and selfless kindness. Her warmth, thoughtfulness, and unwavering support have left an indelible mark on our hearts. Maria's legacy is one of immeasurable love, which will continue to inspire and guide all she loves and all who love her, and her memory will forever be cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

When you think of Maria, the family asks that you say a prayer for her, that her soul may rest in eternal peace. May Maria's memory be a blessing to us all, and may we honor her by living our lives with the same penetrating love, kindness, and compassion that she so generously shared with all she met.

All services will be held at San Juan de los Lagos Parish and Shrine

3231 El Paso Street

San Antonio, Texas 78207

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Viewing: 4:00 p.m.

Rosary: 5:30 p.m.

Refreshments to follow in room 2

Friday, February 21, 2025

Viewing: 9:30 a.m.

Mass: 11:00 a.m.

Reception to follow in the San Juan de los Lagos Parish and Shrine Hall