Mercedes Medrano Fonseca, a cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at her San Antonio home on September 28th, 2024, at the age of 85. Her life, deeply rooted in San Antonio, Texas, touched many within her family and the wider community.
Born in San Antonio on February 9, 1939, Mercedes was a proud graduate of Ursuline Academy, an institution that shaped her early years in the Alamo City. She built her life and family in San Antonio, remaining a dedicated resident throughout her 85 years. For 33 years, she shared her life in marriage with Lazaro Fonseca, together raising their family and establishing deep community ties within San Antonio.
Mercedes dedicated many years to civil service at Kelly Air Force Base, a significant San Antonio landmark and employer. Her career then transitioned to the financial sector in downtown San Antonio, where she worked diligently until the age of 74. Even a broken ankle, which led to her retirement, couldn’t diminish her spirit or her connection to the city she loved. Her professional life reflected her commitment and work ethic, values she instilled in her family in San Antonio.
A woman of deep Catholic faith and immense compassion, Mercedes stood as the proud matriarch of her family. Despite her petite stature, standing at just 5’1″, her presence was powerful and nurturing. Her San Antonio home was a haven of unconditional love, patience, support, and strength for her family. She found joy in the simple connections with her neighbors, appreciating their kindness and the daily stories they shared, especially during her beloved telenovelas. Mercedes’ contagious sense of humor and laughter were well-known, and she had a knack for creating inside jokes, often centered around her coffee preferences or playful exaggerations about her height. Her love extended to animals, and she delighted in spoiling her four dogs and one cat. She also found tranquility in feeding and observing the birds and squirrels in her San Antonio neighborhood, appreciating the everyday beauty around her.
Mercedes is predeceased by her parents, Alberto and Maria Alejandro Medrano, her daughter Diana Fonseca, and her grandson Julian Fonseca. She is lovingly remembered by her former husband, Lazaro Fonseca, and her daughters: Roxana Lozoya and Julia M. Fonseca-Flores, along with Julia’s spouse, Marti Fonseca-Flores. Her legacy continues through her grandchildren: Rosalinda Guadarrama and her spouse Mario Guadarrama Sr., and their children, her great-grandchildren Mario Guadarrama Jr. and Matthew Guadarrama; as well as granddaughters Raquel Rother, Rikki Renee Lozoya, Mercedes Margarite Fonseca, and Isabel Juliet Fonseca. Each of them carries a piece of Mercedes’ San Antonio spirit.
Friends and family are invited to pay their respects during the visitation on Sunday, October 6, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with a Rosary service at 6:00 pm at Castillo Funeral Home. On Monday, October 7, 2024, the funeral procession will depart from Castillo Funeral Home at 8:00 am for a 9:00 am Mass at The Little Flower Basilica Catholic Church, a cherished landmark in San Antonio. Following the Mass, burial services will be held at Mission Burial Park South, also located in San Antonio, where Mercedes will be laid to rest in her beloved hometown.
Mercedes Medrano Fonseca’s life, deeply intertwined with San Antonio, will be remembered for her unwavering love, generosity, and the warmth she brought to everyone she knew. Her memory will forever be cherished by her family and friends in San Antonio and beyond.
