Christina Leyva

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Christina Lopez Leyva, our loving and devoted mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and friend.  On March 20, 2022, at the young age of 65, she joined our Heavenly Father surrounded by her loved ones, after braving a long battle with liver cancer.

Christina was born on July 24, 1956, in Fort Stockton, Texas and was the middle child of 10 siblings.  She married George Leyva July 24, 1999.  They shared a love for one another.  She was George’s best friend in life.  George will miss her dearly and will always carry a love for her in his heart.

Mom was diagnosed with liver cancer in January 2019 and blessed to receive a liver transplant in June 2021 with the liver cancer returning soon after.  Grounded in her Catholic faith, she was a courageous fighter, with a strong determination and will to live.  Her brothers and sisters played a large role in supporting her spiritually with their daily prayers, texts, and phone calls.  Christina loved her family.  She was the center of our universe and the force that brought our family together.  Christina will be remembered for her beauty, smile, laughter, and outgoing nature.  You were never a stranger when she was around.  She brought you in with genuine conversation and loving personality.

Christina is preceded in death by her parents, Luis and Maria Lopez, grandparents, Antonio and Jesusita Carrillo, brother, Francisco Lopez, sister, Patricia Arcides, niece, Denise Arcides.

Christina is survived by her husband, George Leyva, daughters, Jessica Leach-George (James), Jennifer Hughes, Jacqueline Leach, Joanna Leach, eight grandchildren, Justin Hughes, Franchesca Hughes, Savannah King, Sierra Leach, Saul Anguiano, Jayden George and Jacob George, Christian Leach, two great grandchildren Aubrey Glover and Miles Hughes, brothers, Luis Lopez, Ismael Lopez and Julio Lopez, sisters, MaryLou Lopez, Bernice Chavez and Susie Lopez, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family of Christina Lopez Leyva wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the amazing liver team with Texas Transplant Institute of San Antonio, all staff at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital in San Antonio where she received the best care during her many radiation and chemo treatments, multiple hospitalizations for encephalopathy, exceptional post-transplant care by the ICU team and the rehabilitation team who helped get her home. Thank you to Dr Mallik for his support and continuity of care.  A special thank you to Good Shepard Hospice and their amazing staff for supporting our family through her final journey.