Clotilde Vela Saenz

Clotilde “Clo” Vela Saenz, age 81, passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on January 23, 1943, in Edinburg, Texas to Clotilde Champion & Amadeo Martin Vela, and grew up near Linn-San Manuel. She was proud of her family heritage and the history of Laguna Seca Ranch.

She attended Villa Maria High School in Brownsville, TX where she graduated in 1960. She met the love of her life, Joel A. Saenz, in August 1963, and they were married in December of 1964. They started a family in Texas, bringing three children into this world, Stacy 1966, Joel E.1970, and Steven in 1972.

Soon thereafter, career opportunities took them on an adventurous life living overseas, living in 3 foreign countries (England, Panama, and Bahrain) over a span of 25 years. Clo embraced the Expat life, and developed a love of travel, cultures, and peoples. Not one to be told “No”, she took many excursions off the beaten path, and honed her skill as a bargain hunter negotiating with the merchants she encountered in the various markets, mercados, bazaars, and souks she visited around the world. She loved to share stories, photographs, and bring back trinkets to her friends and relatives back home.

Artistic in nature, she explored this talent through photography, painting, crafts, and decorating, which she particularly enjoyed at Christmas time. She saw beauty and potential in the most mundane things and enjoyed gifting her Crafts and creative Christmas ornaments. Throughout her adult life, she was known as the tall, charismatic Texan woman with the green eyes. Always ready to socialize, meet new people, speak her mind, and enjoy a good party.

For as many miles traveled, she made as many friends, the girls from Villa Maria, her beloved Primos from the Valley, the community friendships from the places she called home, foreign and domestic, the dear Aggie Class of ’63 friend group, and numerous social organizations to which she belonged throughout life.

Family gave her great pride and joy, and she loved visiting her children and their families. She was an adoring Grandmother, known to the kids as “Cici.” This along with visits to College Station, Shiner and the Valley brought her much pleasure during the retirement years.

As far away as she may have moved, in her heart she was always a ranch girl from the Rio Grande Valley. May our beloved Clo Rest in Eternal Peace with the Lord.

She was preceded in death by parents, Clotilde & Amadeo Vela; Sisters, Norma Linda Crews, Gloria Imelda ‘Beebe’ Sterling, and her beloved daughter, Stacy Noelle Saenz. Clotilde is survived by her husband, Joel A. Saenz; sons, Joel E. Saenz (his wife, Lisa Hawkins Saenz) & Steven R. Saenz (and his wife, Tanya Allum Saenz); Grandchildren, Alec Luis, Bella Rene, Justin Edward, Zara Michelle Noelle, and Lane Henry, and sisters-in-law, Rosa Fields, Zulema Cheesman, Becky Vargas, and Nora Wilson along with a loving extended family.

A Graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 starting at 10:00 AM at:

Aggie Field of Honor & Memorial Cemetery

38700 Raymond Stotzer Pkwy

College Station, TX 77845

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Lung Association or Rio Grande Valley Catholic Charities.