Maria Adela “Maruja” Payan Rodriguez, 86 years old, of Houston, Texas, passed away on April 15, 2024, after a brief battle with cancer.
Maria was born on September 16, 1937, alongside her surviving twin sister Marta to Jesus Alfredo Rodriguez and Maria Belarmina Rios on a ranch in Sevilla, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. After meeting her best friend of 57 years Creda Nowlin while in Colombia during her work with the Peace Corp, Maria decided to immigrate to the United States in 1972 to Ventura, California. Maria trained in technical school on becoming a seamstress/tailor while in Colombia and brought her skills to Ventura.
In 1972, Maria met Antonio “Tony” Payan through her friend Creda and Antonio’s sister Victoria. Maria and Tony went on to have two boys, Jose and Luis. She became a step-mother to Victoria, Lola, Olivia, Tommy, Roberta, Evelyn and Eddie Payan. She was an Abuelita (Lita) to Nikolas and Lucas Payan, Melvin and Ceylin Menendez, Great-grandma Maria to Camila, Elina, Arleth, and Tia to many and a friend to all.
While in Ventura, Maria was an active member of the Ballet Folklorico dance troupes in Ventura County, making all the costumes and dresses for the dancers and various troupes. During her time in California, she held multiple positions as a food service lady at Holy Cross School, La Guadalupana Society Member at Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, tailor for Yon’s Tailor, booster club member for Saint Bonaventure High School, making medieval outfits for Heart’s Delight.
In 2003, Maria and Tony relocated to Houston to be closer to their sons and grandchildren. Maria worked in food service with the local high school in Cypress Fairbanks ISD. Maria retired from this position to care for her Tony until his death in 2018.
Maria taught all of us the importance of family and unity. Always wanting to feed someone whether at home or at a street festival with her Colombian empanadas. She always found herself in the kitchen whipping up a meal for others. Whether you enjoyed a delicious cup of Colombian coffee with her or a phone call during the day, she was a great conversationist. She took pride in her sewing and alterations for everyone, she could modify a suit or dress to have it fit properly for anyone. In her later years, she enjoyed baseball games on TV or watching her grandsons play at the local ball field. The words that she always ended with was “Te quiero mucho, y Dios Te Bendiga, El Nombre del Padre, el Hijo, y el Espritu Santo, Amen.”
Maria was predeceased by her parents Alfredo and Maria, siblings Carmen Rosa Salgado, Concepcion Salgado, Gilberto Rodriguez, Jose Norberto Rodriguez, Jesus Alberto Rodriguez, Humberto Rodriguez, husband Tony Payan, Eddie Payan, Lola Barrios, daughter in law Cindy Payan.
She is survived by siblings Cecilia Cardona, Heriberto Rodriguez, Juan Alberto Rodriguez, all of Colombia. Sisters Marta Uribe and Rubiela Martinez of Spain. Her children Jose (Loraine) Payan in Cypress Texas, Luis (Brenda) Payan in Houston Texas, Victoria (Pete) Martinez and Tommy Payan in Oxnard California, Ronnie Barrios, Olivia Payan, Roberta Payan, Evelyn Payan in Ventura California. Grandchildren Nikolas and Lucas Payan, Melvin and Ceylin Menendez in Texas, many other grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Family and friends are invited to a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00am Friday morning, May 24, 2024 at Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, 211 E. Main Street, Ventura. Interment where she will be laid to rest next to her late husband Tony will then follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura. Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 E. Main Street, Ventura.