Alicia M. Garza passed away on April 21, 2025 at the age of 96 after a lengthy illness.

She was born on July 11, 1928 to Jose Medina and Simona Gonzalez in the ranch town of Morelos, Coahuila, Mexico, the eighth of twelve children. The ranch was her crucible, instilling in her both a love of family and the value of hard work which would serve her for the rest of her life.

On September 4, 1949, at the age of 21, she was married to Mario Garza. Their union was eventually blessed with four children.

In October of 1954, she moved with her husband from Mexico to Houston where they built MACELM, a ceramic tile installation business. While MACELM started as little more than a dream, it grew over time to include several warehouses and over a dozen employees. Alicia managed this business which served both Houston and Atlanta for over four decades. She was instrumental in supervising the quality of each and every job. Her attention to detail ensured that every homebuilder for whom they worked called them back for future jobs. In the course of time, MACELM was contracted to install tile in exclusive custom homes in Chicago, Washington DC, Charlotte, Dallas, and, of course, Houston.

Alicia plowed her profits from MACELM into various real estate ventures, purchasing houses and then renovating them. She also turned her own home into a launching pad for many family and friends in Mexico who also wished to partake in the American Dream, providing them with both a job and a place to stay. Some used this as an opportunity to further their education, only made possible by Alicia's hospitality. Likewise, she provided accommodations to relatives who sought extended treatment at Houston's  Medical Center, opening up her home to those in need.

She did all of this with aplomb and, as the years went by, a string of grandchildren in her wake. They learned to wait patiently while she balanced the books. They accompanied her on trips to the bank, Walmart, job sites, and even Mexico. Her 12-passenger Dodge van was famous for having tile samples in the back and half a dozen children in the front. In doing this, all of her grandchildren learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and tenacity.

Despite all of these accomplishments, her highest achievement was surely her marriage to Mario. The marriage vows which they recited as young lovers were renewed every day. For 66 years, Alicia dedicated herself to Mario, turning his skill set as a master craftsman into a flourishing fountain that nourished the lives of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband Mario and her daughter Consuelo Suarez. She is survived by daughter Enriqueta Rottman (and husband Gordon); daughter Linda Hill (and husband Randy); son Mario Garza, Jr. (and wife Lisa); grandchildren Alicia McGowen (and husband Pat); Tina Holland (and husband Reid); Ethan Seale; Joseph Meeks (and wife Terica); Mario Meeks (and wife Emily); Melanie Clooney (and husband Andy); Angelina Upton (and husband Vince); Jameson Norman (and wife Josephine); Evan Norman (and wife Michelle); Shanna Mouton (and husband Justin), Andrea Garza (and husband Alex); and Hannah Bielamowicz (and husband Justin). She is also survived by 27 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren. Alicia had also been looking forward to the arrival of two additional great granddaughters later this year.