Maria Elena Aguilar, of Dickinson, passed away on Sunday, November 30, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving family at the age of 71.

She was born in Apatzingán, Michoacán, Mexico, to her mother, Teresa Avilés Venegas.

Maria took her final breath in her home surrounded by all the love of her children and grandchildren. Maria was born one of seven to a single mother in a small town in Michoacan, where at a very young age she had to work to contribute to her family’s financial responsibilities. Driven by a desire for a better life and opportunities to help her family, she immigrated from Mexico to the United States in the early 1970s. She first settled in Chicago, where she started her own family and joined the workforce. The cold weather in Chicago and the hard city life drove her to make a change. In the late 1980s, she sold all her possessions and moved her family back to Michoacán, Mexico, for a short period before realizing that, while she dearly loved her home country, her home and where she wanted to raise her children was always in the U.S. In 1990, she moved to Pasadena, Texas, where she called home until her passing. During her time in Texas, she balanced work with her dedication to being a devoted homemaker, mother, and grandmother. She adored her grandchildren and grand-pups and spent all the time she could showing them love through her amazing food and long facetime conversations. Maria also had many hobbies. She loved shopping and collecting jewelry but before she fell ill, gardening was her passion. Her garden was beautiful and she loved spending hours every day tending to every last flower and shrub.

Maria was the strongest woman her children knew, taking great pride in instilling in them the value of hard work, ensuring they would not have to endure the struggles she bravely overcame growing up. Maria was known as the most giving human, welcoming everyone into her home and insisting they share a meal—many will never forget the taste and smell of her delicious food. Even up to her final days, her generosity defined her, often helping family and anyone in need back in Mexico even when she had little for herself. Her unwavering love for her family, profound compassion for all, and spirit of sacrifice will be her lasting legacy, and she will be greatly missed by everyone she encountered.

Although all her life she was a God-loving Christian, on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon in November before she passed, Maria officially gave her life to the Lord and was baptized in her home surrounded by all whom she loved, the Holy Spirit and the eternal love of our Lord.

Maria was preceded in death by her mother, Teresa Avilés Venegas; her sisters, Guadalupe Gutiérrez Aviles and Celia Hernandez; and her beloved grandsons, Joseph Daniel Martinez and Chase Daniel Boone.

She is survived by her loving children: her daughter, Vanessa Gonzalez and her husband Danny Gonzalez; her daughter, Jessica Johnson and her husband Ryan Alex Johnson; her son, Ulises Daniel Corona and his wife Annemarie Tran; her son, Apollo Corona; and her son, Juan Carlos Diaz. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Nicolas Andrew Gonzalez, Danyela Gonzalez, Genaro Martinez, Ryan Daniel Martinez, Emma Olivia Martinez, Kovi Johnson, Blake Boone, Phoenix Elizabeth Corona, Sadie Marie Corona, Joshua Stephen Corona, Jordan Reese Corona, Ashley Shane Rodriguez, and Juan Carlos Diaz Jr.; and her beloved grand-fur-babies, Charlie and Rupert.

The Family will receive friends on Saturday, December 20, 2025, from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm with a Ceremony at 2 o’clock at Crowder Funeral Home, 1645 East Main, League City, TX

Maria’s favorite flowers were azaleas, or you may send a memorial to a charity of your choice.