Herminia Torres

Herminia P. Torres of Uvalde passed away on August 21, 2020 at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio at the age of 72.  She was born on June 2, 1948 in Uvalde to Stanley V. Placencia and Elisa Samarripa.

As a child Herminia knew that she was the oldest and with that came the job of being a role model for her siblings.  She took on that role and never faltered.  All throughout her life, she was an inspiration to her sisters and brother.
Herminia attended Uvalde High School beginning in 1963 and graduating in 1967.  She was an All District basketball player and was on the track team.  As a Lobo she inspired her younger sisters to do the same and follow in her footsteps.  In 1970 Herminia married her high school sweetheart, Roy Torres and they had two wonderful sons.  She adored her sons and dedicated her life to them.
Herminia had a great passion for life and a great passion for her family.  She loved her sons and grandchildren immensely and lived her life making sure they would always know she was there for them.  She wanted them to know the meaning of compassion  and how to love one another.  She was the greatest example of compassion.
After a short career in cosmetology she went to work in the school district as a PE aide and later became a teacher's aide helping out in the classroom.  That experience gave her courage to go back to school.  Like so many others she worked full time, and attended night classes all while raising her sons, and taking care of her home.  This was very difficult for her but she was determined to follow through on the goals she had set for herself.  After achieving her teaching degree she continued teaching, dedicating forty-two years to UCISD.  She genuinely loved her job and all of her students. Often she would run in to her students and call them by name.  Then she would tell everyone, "That was my student!"  During the 2001-2002 school year she was selected as the Uvalde Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year and Dalton ECC Teacher of the Year.  Upon her retirement, the Uvalde County Judge honored her hard work and dedication to her job by declaring May 18, 2011 as "Herminia Torres Day".
She loved family gatherings and spending time with her family.  She was the definition of the phrase "the life of the party".  Playing Loteria, family cook-outs, holiday celebrations and birthday parties were her favorite.  These celebrations were not the same when she was not there.
Her friendly disposition and kindness was beyond compare.  She was such a kind and giving person but her kindness was not only shown in words, but in her actions. Herminia and her husband Roy, volunteered many hours with the Uvalde Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.  She would also spend Monday mornings volunteering at the church and would help with the collection.  When her friends fell ill, Herminia would make sure she was there for them.  She would show up with food and make sure they had they medications they needed and often take them to their doctor's appointments.
She had a great heart and had so many friends.  Everywhere she went she was recognized.  Her friendship was infectious and she was able to stir up a conversation with a complete stranger.  She made everybody feel accepted and had a very special way to communicate with people.  Her family will greatly miss her as well as her close friends.  Life without her will never be the same.  We don't know why she was called to Heaven so suddenly, but what we do know is that the good Lord will be receiving a loving, caring, kind soul that will continue spreading her love in Heaven.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years of Uvalde; sons, Roy P. Torres, Jr. and wife, Michelle and Reynol P. Torres and wife, Erica all of Uvalde; sister, Gloria Ramos and husband, Felipe of Uvalde; brother, Armando Placencia and wife, Vidajane of Uvalde; grandchildren, Jenave Mendoza, Jathan Mendoza both of Arlington, Minnesota, Stanley Torres, and Ryder Torres both of Uvalde, step grandchildren, Rankin Falcon, Randy Falcon, Jacob Alaniz and Gabral Alaniz all of Uvalde; sister in law, Dolores Mares and husband, Joe of Albuquerque, New Mexico; brothers in law, Joe Torres of Big Spring, Gilbert Torres of Sacramento, California, Armando Torres and wife, Alicia of Denver, Colorado, Ricardo Torres and wife, Antonia of Rota, Spain; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Elisa Rodriguez, sisters in law, Rebecca Torres and Marsha Torres, and brother in law, Ray Torres.

Visitation will begin on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. followed by a rosary at 6:00 p.m. at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary.  A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Stanley Torres, Ryder Torres, Jathan Mendoza, Patrick E. Ramos, Randy Falcon, George L. Rodriguez and Philip Dorflinger.

Honorary pallbearers will be Blanca Escobedo, Anita Ybarra, Frances Limones, Stella Saiz, Carmen Zamarripa, Annie Gutierrez, Mary Rodriguez, Susie Fernandez, Phyllis Hellums, Esther Saiz, Olga Samarripa, and Genoveva Placencia