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2017/04/16 - Houston, AEB

(2017-04-23an Houston Chronicle, Legacy.com-en argitara emaniko hil-oharra)

(1926 - 2017)

Maria Larralde Montserrat Echarte Guarch De La Garza, gourmet cook, bon vivant, storyteller and world-traveler, passed peacefully on Sunday, April 16, 2017. Maria was an accomplished equestrian, avid reader, and music lover. Those who knew her called her "Chicha."

Maria was born on December 15, 1926 in Luque, Paraguay to Bernardo Larralde and Felicitas Montserrat. A proud descendent of French Basque and Catalán parents who fled during Franco's reign, Maria had a rebellious spirit by a young age. While attending an all-girls boarding school, she met the love of her life: Porfirio Nestor ("Popo") De La Garza, who was an enlisted man in the American Air Force. Popo and Chicha were married in 1946, and spent nearly fifty-three years together until his death in 1999. While Popo worked across the American continent and served in Vietnam, Chicha served as a devout Catholic, matriarch and model wife who ruled her roost and raised four successful young men.

Aside from her Basque heritage, her children, and grandchildren, a source of great pride for Maria was her cooking. She cooked from scratch, used real butter, and did not cut corners...at least, not until she tried empanada wrappers from Williams Sonoma. When her sons and grandsons revolted, Maria never bought pre-rolled "masa" again! 
Maria was a dedicated friend, mother and grandmother. She was never known to hold her tongue and had a saying for everything. One wise old adage that describes Maria's character (and most importantly, appropriate to be reprinted here) is "que me quiten lo bailao."

Maria is preceded in death by her parents and loving husband. She is survived by sons, Carlos Humberto ("Chaz"), Porfirio Nestor ("Sonny") and daughter-in-law, Susan Faseler De La Garza, David Ralph ("David") and daughter-in-law, Carmen Flores De La Garza, and, Guillermo Bernardo ("Bill") and daughter-in-law, Kimberly Levi. Maria is also survived by grandchildren, Christian Lee De La Garza, Todd Oliver De La Garza, Nicole Lauren De La Garza, Richard Lee Casares, Heidy Elizabeth Arteaga, her husband Anthony Arteaga, and Teal Alexandra de la Garza, and her husband, Thomas Frantzeskakis. Maria is survived by great-grandchildren, Cade Christian De La Garza, Giovanni Casares Floravit, Kristian Allen Sohrt, Karson Lee Sohrt, Kyleigh Elizabeth Sohrt and Grayson Ryan Arteaga.

A private service for close friends and family will be held to celebrate Maria's life on May 13, 2017. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made in her name to the Susan G. Komen Foundation  to help in the fight against breast cancer.