A gathering of family and friends will take place on Monday, August 3, 2026 from 6:00 PM yo 9:00 PM with a Rosary at 7:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend. Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish - St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the Fort Stockton Catholic Cemetery.

Maria Ana Nunez, 82 of El Paso, Texas passed away on July 23, 2026. Rosary will be held Monday, August 3rd at 7 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on August 4th at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Fort Stockton, Texas.

Maria Ana was born in Fort Stockton, Texas to Aniceto and Agueda Nunez on October 3, 1943. She was a proud alumnus of Butz Elementary School during the segregation years. She graduated with honors from Fort Stockton High School in 1962 and attended the University of Texas in Austin for her freshman year and went on to graduate with honors from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas. She ultimately earned a master's degree in counseling from the University of Texas at El Paso. She was certified in secondary English and Spanish and a certified counselor. She retired from El Paso ISD in 2002.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her maternal grandparents Rafael and Francisca Gonzales, her daughter Ana Lisa Tess, her great nephew Christopher Pruitt, and numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins.

She is survived by her siblings Amado Rafael (Minda), Irma Rubio, Mary Margaret Hinojos (Leo); her nieces Becky Nunez, Noemi Costanza (Nick) and Miranda Hinojos; her nephews Edward Nunez, Carlos Nunez (Marisol), and Trey Hinojos as well as several great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her dear friends, Carmen Rodriguez, Ysela Murillo, Aida Munoz, Yabel Mancia, Mari Cervantez, and Mami Vidal, affectionately known as Las San Juaneras.

Pallbearers are Carlos Nunez, PA Gonzales, Juan Ramon Flores, Armando Hinojos, Maurizio Iaquaniello, and Orlando Benavides.

Born Maria Ana, she was affectionally known as Mary Ann to her family and as Anita to her Catholic community and many close friends in El Paso. She was a proud and participating member of the Democratic Party and defended her membership vigorously. Her legacy will be a life of generously giving to those in need by often providing transportation for friends and community members to medical appointments throughout El Paso. Mary Ann tendered free advice and counseling to her family and friends and was known for her vast list of resources. She treasured her family history and had a remarkable gift for remembering and sharing beloved stories that kept family memories alive.

Living with her grandmother left her with a lifelong appreciation for wisdom, love, and sacrifice that shaped her future as a mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. Mary Ann lived a humble life, was a servant of God, and loved unconditionally. As her mentor and counselor, Sister Margarita shared about Mary Ann, “Prayer was not something she practiced, it was how she lived...she had a passion for learning...her greatest earthly blessing was her family.”

Our sister’s passing leaves a lasting emptiness, but her spirit will continue to guide us. Mary Ann carried the loss of her daughter, Ana Lisa, in her heart every day and never stopped missing her. She has now been reunited with her in eternal peace.