Guadalupe "Lupita" Saldaña Aleman

Guadalupe Saldaña Aleman, known affectionately to everyone as “Lupita,” passed away peacefully at the age of 89. After a long life devoted to her family and her faith, she has entered the Kingdom of Heaven and is finally back in God’s eternal embrace. Born in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Lupita always kept a piece of her roots with her. After marrying the love of her life, Raul Aleman, the two started their journey in Chicago before eventually finding their forever home in Laredo, Texas.

Lupita was the heart of her home, and that heart was usually found in her kitchen. She was known far and wide for her incomparable sazón. No one ever left her house with an empty stomach; a seat at her table meant you were family. To Lupita, cocinar era una forma de amar. Her flour tortillas wrapped us in warmth, her limonada could refresh anyone’s spirit, and her sopitas tasted like pure cariño.

That same love and patience she put into her cooking could be seen in her yard. Lupita’s garden was her pride and joy. You could usually find her tending to her lush ivies and vibrant helechos, or coaxing the brightest colors out of her Corona de Cristo and hibiscus. Her home was surrounded by the shade and sweetness of the trees she nurtured: grapefruit, fig, orange, guava, pear, and pecan. Every blooming flower and every piece of fruit was a reminder of her hard work and her "green thumb."

Por cada platillo que preparó y cada planta que cuidó, había una historia, un recuerdo, y un pedacito de su alma. She taught us that whether you are feeding a family or tending a garden, everything grows better when you treat it with kindness y con amor.

Lupita was the last surviving member of the Saldaña family. She was the pillar of our family and a woman of incredible strength and resilience. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, godmother, and the best "Wela" to her grand and great-grandchildren. Her love was the root that held us all together.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Raul Aleman; her parents, Catarino Saldaña and Encarnación “Conchita” Vega de Saldaña; her siblings, Sixto Hipólito (Esperanza) Saldaña, Josefina (Pablo Salas) Saldaña, Rodolfo (Regina) Saldaña, Edmundo (Carmela) Saldaña, and Raul (Maria Antonia “Toña”) Saldaña; her sisters-in-law, Benedicta (Ignacio) Navarrette, Consuelo (Rogelio) Hernandez, Consuelo (Luiz) Ruiz, Elena (Jorge) Garcia, and Elvia (Vicente) Carrillo; her brother-in-law, Atilano Aleman; and her daughter-in-law, Delia Aleman.

She is survived by her children, Raul (+Delia) Aleman, Martin (Sandra) Aleman, and Raquel (Omar) Peña; her grandchildren, Marco (Sonya) Aleman, Kristina (Carlos) Costilla, Kazandra (David) Brunelli, Alezandra Aleman, and Leezandra Aleman; and her great-grandchildren, Emily Quinn Costilla and Carlos Raul Costilla. She also leaves behind her brothers-in-law, Roberto (Maria Guadalupe) Aleman and Jose Blas (Gracelia) Aleman; her sister-in-law, Isabel Aleman; and a large, loving family of nieces, nephews, and godchildren who will miss her dearly.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the staff of Altus Hospice, especially Dr. Mahani and nurses Erica Huerta and Alexis Flores, for the dignity and compassion they showed Lupita during her battle with cancer. Your kindness was a light for us in her final days.

Lupita leaves us a legacy of generosity and tradition. We will see her in every garden that blooms and taste her love in every family recipe passed down through the years. Her life was our blessing, and her memory will be our greatest treasure.

The family will be receiving condolences on Sunday evening, December 21, 2025 from 5 pm to 9 pm at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapel & Cremation services, 719 Loring at Cortez: where a Vigil for the Deceased and Rosary will commence at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Services will be conducted on Monday morning, December 22, 2025 departing at 9:30 a.m. from Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels to Christ the King Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m.

Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at the family plot of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

You may express your condolences, share your favorite memories, and sign the guestbook online at: www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, 719 Loring at Cortez, Laredo, Texas 78040; (956)722-0001.