Epifania Castilleja Natal

Epifania Castilleja Natal was called home by our Heavenly Father on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, at the age of 88. She was born in Martindale on April 7, 1930, to Anselmo and Antonia Castilleja who both preceded her in death. She is also preceded in death by her husband James Natal, Sr., brother Benito Castilleja and sisters Eulalia Ivarra, Odilia Pardo and Severiana Irene Castilleja.

Epifania is survived by her daughter Alice Valle and husband Ernesto; son James Natal, Jr.; her beloved cats Guera and Skunky; and sister Mary Frances Prieto.

Devoted to the Catholic faith, she was asked by Father Roberto Alvarado to re-establish the Sociedad

Guadalupana at St. John Catholic Church and became the first president after the association was founded in 1980. In her early years, she was also an active member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Martindale, American GI Forum Auxiliary, and Sociedad Archicofradia del Inmaculado Corazón de Maria.

Visitation will be Friday, Dec. 28, beginning at 4 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at Pennington Funeral Home. Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church with Reverend Jairo Lopez officiating, assisted by Deacon Jessie Mojica. Interment to follow at John F. Kennedy Cemetery in Martindale, Texas.

Serving as Casket Bearers will be Roy Castilleja, Rito Ivarra, Merle Demo, Fidel Pardo, Christopher Ivarra and Esabel Prieto, Jr.

The family wishes to thank the doctors and their staff who provided care for Epifania throughout the years: the late Dr. Thomas Castoldi, DO; Dr. Carlos Zamora, MD; Dr. Alcides Cairus, MD; Dr. Abel Galaviz, MD; Dr. Donna Dolan, MD; Dr. Rene Castillo, MD; Dr. Michael Statton, MD; Wimberley Home Health (Nurse Shanon and Physical Therapist Laura Crawford); Resolute Health Hospital New Braunfels; Central Texas Medical Center and CTMC Hospice.

Arrangements by Pennington Funeral Home, 323 N. Comanche, San Marcos, Texas 78666, 512-353-4311.