YOAKUM: Sylvia Moreno, passed away at the age of 96 on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Regrettably, our mother has been living with the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia for the last 15 years. Sylvia was born September 7, 1928 in Dryer, Texas to Eligio and Delfina (Canales) Martinez. She was the oldest of four children.
Sylvia grew up on a farm in Hochheim and spoke of having to walk through several pastures past the cows she always feared to get to the little school house in the country. She completed school up to the 8th grade at Prairie View in Hochheim. While she was in grade school, she was friends and walked to school with the person who would become her future husband, Victor Moreno, and his younger siblings, Raul and Mary. Of her chores on the farm, she hated picking cotton the most & tried to avoid it as much as possible. She also did not care for cooking much, so her mother and grandmother were fine with her staying out of the kitchen; and instead do her part by helping drive the tractor or truck for her father while he toiled in the fields growing cotton, corn and hay to support the family.
In 1944 when Sylvia was 16 years old, she moved to Yoakum and got a job hand tooling leather and developed her talent through the years working for several leather companies in Yoakum. She worked hand tooling saddles, belts, billfolds, purses and anything made with leather for Tex Tan, Cow Country and Circle Y as well as doing custom work for individuals and family members. She also did leather tooling work for the Carl Ammerman family who had their own leather business in the country. She designed and hand tooled special custom saddles given as prizes to rodeo champions for years. Victor built Sylvia a work room and tooling tables for her leather work at home. She also taught her youngest children, Cynthia and Carlos, to hand tool and help out with her leather work at home when necessary. Sylvia worked tooling at home until the early 2000’s.
Sylvia was a faithful Catholic who believed in the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. She believed in going to church regularly, praying the rosary and praying to St. Jude on behalf of her children and loved ones. Sylvia and Victor were both loyal members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. They both participated in various functions through the years that supported the church. Sylvia helped in the church thrift store while Victor was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Sylvia was a helper to Father Charles Kram who resided and served as chaplain in the old Huth Memorial Hospital. She would sometimes assist him when he held mass in the hospital.
Sylvia married Victor M. Moreno on October 21, 1946 at Santa Ana Church in Yoakum. They were together for over 64 years until Victor’s death on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011. They are survived by all their five children; Daniel Moreno & wife Yolanda, Linda Zamora & husband Richard, Victor (Jim) Moreno & wife Holly Gordon, Cynthia Moreno & husband Larry Hobbs, Carlos Moreno & wife Julie; 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; sister, Delia Moreno, brother, Rudy Martinez & his wife Lucy and brother, Paul Martinez; sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Martinez
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, June 30, 2025 with Rosary recited at 7 p.m. at Thiele-Cooper Funeral Home.
Funeral Service 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Rev. Matthew Huehlefeld officiating. She will be laid to rest at St. Joseph Catholic Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Our family would like to thank Sylvia’s long time friends and former co-workers from Yoakum, Lorene Roznousky and Doris Ann Simper for all their letters and cards through these past years. Their love and consideration for our mother is so appreciated. We want to thank the staff at University Village Memory Care in Round Rock who gave mom so much care and attention these last 6 years. They helped her and our family during difficult times. The nurses and staff from Valerian Home Health and Hospice gave her the extra care she needed to stay comfortable as her body declined to her final day on June 26th.