LYFORD - Carolina Rios Saldana, 65, of Raymondville, Tx, entered into rest Friday, October 9, 2009 surrounded by her daughter, Vidala and her husband, Julio.

She was born on October 24, 1943 in Helen, Tx, to the late Torivio C. Rios and Flavia D. Rios. She attended the Lyford Public Schools and received her Bachelors' Degree from UTPA in Bilingual Education. She was a certified teacher and worked for the Lyford, Edcouch-Elsa and Santa Rosa school districts. She retired from teaching in 1999. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Torivio Rios, Jr.

She is survived by her husband, Julio S. Saldana, Jr. of Lyford, three daughters, Vidala Ximena of Raymondville, Armandina LaMar (Ric) Ortiz of Corpus Christi, and Donella Marisol (Paul) Alvarado of McAllen. She is also survived by two granddaughters, Amanda Jewel Taylor from Canyon and Mya Marisol Alvarado of McAllen; four grandsons, Julio Saldana Taylor, Nashville, TN, Pablo III, Matthew Torivio and Marco Julian Alvarado of McAllen and by one brother, Ric Rios, of Alexandria, VA.

Rosary was recited Sunday, October 11th was at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Lyford. Visitation was held 2-9 p.m., Sunday, October 11 at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church and funeral service was celebrated on Monday, October 12 at 10 a.m. at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Lyford.

Honored to be pallbearers were: Joel Cruz, Oscar Cruz, Chris Saldana, Albert Saldana, Tomas LaMar Morales and Omar Isaac Morales. Honorary pallbearers were her sons-in-law, Ric Ortiz, Paul Alvarado, all her other nephews, Doug Buchanan, Abel Cavazos, Sigifredo Infante, Ed Salinas and Efrain Villarreal.

Funeral arrangements under the direction of Duddlesten Funeral Home.

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