Gloria Leija DeLeon, age 77, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, December 25, 2023. She was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico on April 24, 1946, to Ancieto Leija and Jovita Vela of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Gloria spent the first sixteen years of her life in Nuevo Laredo, MX before moving to San Antonio, TX after her mother's passing.

Gloria came to the United States to find a better life for herself and her future family. She was disabled at the age of three due to the polio virus, leaving her left leg paralyzed. However, that did not stop her from living the American Dream. She waited on tables, cleaned houses, and spent several years cleaning the dormitory rooms at Our Lady of Lady University. She worked hard all her life and was very proud of the brand-new red Ford Pinto she bought with cash in the early 1970s.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and her brothers and sisters, Aurora, Pedro, Maria, Josefina, Ancieto Jr, Arturo, Elena and Antonio.

Gloria is also preceded in death by her loving husband of 45 years, Alfonso Garin DeLeon; She is survived by her two children, Jaime DeLeon and Jose DeLeon and her five grandchildren, Caitlynn DeLeon, Sophia DeLeon, Michael DeLeon, Daniel DeLeon, & Sebastian DeLeon and many nieces and nephews.

Gloria will be remembered by her family and friends for her quiet toughness, her big laugh, her

love of singing rancheras and her dedication to her family. She always put others before herself and always willing to help a friend and neighbor. Gloria was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be dearly missed by all.