Mrs. Esperanza Leal Bazán passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 surrounded by family at home.

Esperanza Leal Bazán was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 9, 1924 to Margarita and Angel Sanchez Leal.  Esperanza was one of 16 children. Her parents were originally from Michoacan, Mexico and they migrated to the US in the mid-1900's to work as farmworkers. They resided in the Chicago, Ilinois area until after World War II.  After the war, Esperanza's parents returned to Mexico, and they moved to Mexico City.  At the age of 16, she was sent to work as a live-in nanny for a family in Mexico City.

Esperanza and Jeronimo lived two blocks from each other in the "Colonia Obrera" where Jeronimo was working as a carpenter and Esperanza a live in nanny.   While on their daily walks they met and one year later they married (November 10, 1946).  Life in Mexico was not what Esperanza wanted for her six daughters and one son at that time.  She and Jeronimo decided to move back to the US where she believed her children would have a better life.

During her early days in Houston, Texas, she ensured that her children would be raised in the Catholic Church.  Esperanza and Jeronimo became members of St. Stephen's Catholic Church on Center St. where they became very active in the Cursillos de Cristiandad (Women and Men's retreats) or the Cursillo Movement.  Esperanza was one of the leaders in the Cursillo Movement.  As a leader in the Spanish Language Cursillos, she prepared many talks (rollos) and lead many women in small groups to continue motivating them.

In addition, Esperanza was very involved in many parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and finally, she and Deacon Jerry found a home at Prince of Peace Catholic Church.  She participated in providing classes for couples who were being prepared for their Convalidation or the Sacrament of Matrimony as well as provided classes for Baptism preparation for parents wanting to baptize their children in the Church.

Esperanza is preceded by her two sons, Senovio and Jorge Bazan, her parents, Margarita and Angel Leal, mother-in-law, Francisca R. Bazán, father-in-law, Serafin Bazán, several sisters and brothers, son-in-law Marcelo Uriegas, Jr. and a great-granddaughter, Zoey Dockal.  Esperanza is survived by her beloved husband of 75 years, Deacon Jeronimo R. Bazán; her sister, Anita Leal Blanco, her eight daughters and spouses, Lidia and Edward Gutierrez, Raquel Aurora and Joe E. Gonzales, Maria G. Esther Bazán-Myrick and Rick Myrick, Lucy and Bill Weaver, Julia Uriegas, Laura and Dr. Pedro Caram, Hope and Ray Herrera, Linda and David Langham; her four sons, Roger and Sylvia Bazán, Jesse G. and Anita Bazán, Jerry Bazán, Anthony and Elizabeth Bazán, forty-seven grandchildren, forty-two great-grandchildren, and one great great-grandson.  The family would like to thank the Vantage Hospice for their loving and compassionate care during her last days at home.