Lilia Castillo

Lilia M. Castillo was born March 29, 1923 and went to be with the Lord October 24, 2015. She married Felipe S. Castillo on January 18, 1940. She moved to Kerrville in 1945, after her husband was transferred to the VA Tuberculosis Hospital after he contracted Tuberculosis during World War II.\r\n\r\nWhen she moved to Kerrville, she didn't know anyone. She was lost without a place to stay. It was at that point that she decided, that if she ever heard of someone who was stranded or in need of a place to stay, she would offer them her home.\r\n\r\nIn 1995 she received the Pro Ecclesia ET Pontific Award signed by Pope John Paul II, now St. John Paul II. The award came as a complete surprise, and she was so humbled not realizing as the award was being read, that it was for her. Lilia opened her home to 200 families who came to Kerrville to be with their loved ones who were sick in local hospitals. She provided them with transportation, meals and free room and board. \r\n\r\nDuring the Amnesty period in the 1990's she helped approximately 300 families with paper work to obtain their U.S citizenship. She felt compassion for Schreiner College students living away from home that she invited them for Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday dinners, because she wanted them to be around a loving family.\r\n\r\nShe took in a 4 year old little girl whose mother had cancer and provided care to her until her mother recuperated. A family relative in California asked if Lilia and her husband would take in their 15 year old daughter who was a runaway and was also abusing drugs and alcohol. With the love and support they provided to this young girl, she graduated from Tivy High School.\r\n \r\nLilia provided a home for some student's of Conley's cosmetology school, until their graduation and always did it with unselfish love. \r\n\r\nLilia many times would drive people to and from doctor appointments in Kerrville and San Antonio. She volunteered at the Salvation Army for 35 years. Among other things, she also volunteered for Home Spun Early Childhood Intervention, translated for Hispanic families at hospitals, the police department, IRS, the Social Security office and Kerrville City Hall.\r\n\r\nLilia was a member of Notre Dame Catholic Church, founded the Guadalupana Society, was a member of Women's of Notre Dame, St. Vincent de Paul, Notre Dame Alter Society, Notre Dame School, and the Notre Dame School Parish board. She was the link within the City of Kerrville who provided services to the community, churches, and social services. She believed in paying it forward. With all the services she provided she never accepted money in return. People would ask her "How much do we owe you" and she would respond "nada (nothing)".\r\n\r\nShe was preceded in death by her parents Petra and Elijio Saldana; husband Felipe Castillo and infant son Robert Castillo. \r\n\r\nShe is survived by three daughters, Elia Torres and husband Jerry of Kerrville; Olaya Flores and husband Alfred of Kerrville and Tencha Rodriguez of Austin; son, Joe Castillo and wife Lila of San Antonio; 15 Grandchildren, 31 Great Grandchildren and 3 Great-Great Grandchildren.\r\n\r\nRosary service will be held at 6pm Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at Grimes Funeral Chapels with Deacon Jimmy Bill.\r\n\r\nServices will be held at 2pm Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at Notre Dame Catholic Church officiated by Mike Boulette, Celebrant. Interment will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery.\r\n\r\nPallbearers are Robert Castillo, Philip Castillo, Jerry Torres, Jr., Mario Garcia, Jerry Garcia, Larry Garcia, Rene Garcia and Marty Garcia.\r\n\r\nHonorary Pallbearers are Joseph Castillo, Margaret Garcia, Melissa Galban, Veronica Arneson, Trisha Rodriquez, Carol Wagner and Yolanda Larsen.\r\n\r\nMemorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association and Notre Dame Catholic Church.\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n