Manuel Benavidez

Manuel Lorenzo "Lencho" Benavidez of Tuleta, Texas, passed away Friday, February 22, 2019. He was 84.

Manuel was born in Bee County on September 4, 1934, to Teofilo Benavidez and Tomasa (Duran) Benavidez. He married Tomasita Abrigo at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beeville, Texas, on March 22, 1969. He was a mechanic and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and three sisters, Maria Casarez and Inez and Gloria Benavidez.

Manuel is survived by his loving family which includes his wife of 49 years, Tomasita "Tommie" Abrigo of Tuleta; four daughters, Melissa Benavidez of Tallahassee, Florida, Melinda (Robert) Leal of Beeville, Marissa Gonzales of Pettus and Jeanette Flores of Floresville; four sisters, Teodora Galvan of Normanna, Esther (Lupe) Constante of Tuleta, Christina (Encarnacion) Perez of Tuleta and Catherine (Michael) Ludijan of Alvarado; four brothers, Ernesto (Benancia) Benavidez of Tuleta, Amado (Sharon) Benavidez of Mansfield, Santiago (Debbie) Benavidez of Beeville and Joe Benavidez of Beeville; grandchildren, Austin (Chastity) Vangunda of Beeville, Paul Vangunda of Tallahassee, Florida, Katryna Leal (Reynaldo Alvarado, Jr.) of Beeville, Sean Leal of Beeville, Karyna Leal of Beeville, Alyssa Gonzales of Pettus, Michael Gonzales of Pettus, John Manuel Gonzales of Beeville, Matthew Gonzales of Beeville and Payton Flores of Floresville; and great-grandchildren, Khloe Garcia, Melaina Vangunda and Arlee Alvarado, all of Beeville.

Visitation will be held Monday, February 25, 2019, from 5 to 8 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beeville.

A Rosary will be recited there that evening at 7 o'clock.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Burial will follow in the Del Bosque Cemetery in Normanna, Texas.

Pallbearers will be Austin Vangunda, Paul Vangunda, Sean Leal, Michael Gonzales, Alex Carabajal and Reynaldo Alvarado, Jr.

Manuel was raised in a Christian home, was grounded in his faith and did the same with his family. Despite the loss of his right hand at an early age, he overcame all obstacles. He relearned to play his accordion left handed, and became one of the best mechanics and cooks ever!

Manuel was gifted with words of wisdom for not only his daughters, but for all his nieces, nephews, grandchildren and everyone else who crossed his path. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy and life lessons will be remembered always by those who loved him, and he will forever be loved.

Visitation

Public Viewing

St. Joseph Catholic Church
609 E. Grammam
Beeville, TX  78102
Monday, February 25, 2019
5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Rosary

St. Joseph Catholic Church
609 E. Grammam
Beeville, TX  78102
Monday, February 25, 2019
7:00 p.m.

Service

Funeral Mass

St. Joseph Catholic Church
609 E. Grammam
Beeville, TX  78102
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Del Bosque Cemetery
Normanna, TX