Elsa Cisneros Chio

BROWNSVILLE, TX. – Elsa Cisneros Chio, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, educator, and friend entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, the 26th of January 2021 in Brownsville, Texas. She was seventy-one years of age.

Elsa came from humble beginnings. She was born on the 9th of December 1949 to her parents, Felipe Cisneros Trevino and Guadalupe Cisneros Gomez, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. At a young age Elsa learned the value of family, loyalty, persistence, consistency, and always having a positive soul. She grew up watching her parents work ceaselessly to provide food on the table, and maintain a cohesive family unit. Along her journey, Elsa met a family who deeply impacted her and continued cementing her personal values. When she attended Valley Baptist Academy, she made many friends with whom she formed life-long friendships. These are all values she always held close to her heart.

The first thing Elsa would want said about her is that she found her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in 1974. She was a lifelong member of the United Pentecostal Church, New Life Brownsville. Quite honestly, from that moment on she never looked back, as she remained ever faithful in her walk with God to the very end.

Whether it was family or friends along her walk through life, Elsa developed many personal relationships and she cherished each and every one of them. This was evident through her stories in conversation of going to coffee or lunch with this friend or that sister from the church, or simply going to visit family. In frankness, there are too many to count. You know who you are.

After Haggar & Co. closed and retiring from the City of Brownsville, Elsa realized her dream of receiving a degree in teaching. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Education in December of 2008 from The University of Texas at Brownsville - Texas Southmost College. Thus, began her new adventure and her undying devotion to helping her students. She was relentless in her pursuit to ensure all her students learned and excelled. Her love for her students was real and genuine. This was so because she would tell of her students’ hardships and mention them by name as if they were hers-Even the ones she scolded. Her students at both Lopez High School and Hanna High School scored top percentile on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, formerly known as Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, (STAAR, formerly TAKS) exam on numerous occasions. She was also selected to be the English Department Chair at Hanna High School.

Elsa was transparent with everyone she knew. Her sincerity shown through which is why she was loved by everyone. She hosted “Chio” Toys for Kids Christmas drives and was actively involved with her Alma Mater Valley Baptist Academy Alumni Association. For a special few, Elsa became their rock. She was the one constant in their life. She was the solid ground underneath their feet. She was that person to whom they could go to and be at peace, be themselves, and just be at home by being around her.

Preceding Elsa in death are her parents, Felipe Cisneros Trevino and Guadalupe Cisneros Gomez; her brother, Sergio Cisneros Gomez; her sister, Yolanda Perez Cisneros; and lifelong family friends Drury Dudley, Willie Frazine Catchot Dudley.

Left behind to cherish her memory are her children Daniel Chio (Blanca), Elsa Tanya Chio, Crystal Margaret Chio, Phillip Anthony Chio (Margarita M.); grandchildren Allison Melissa Nichole Chio, Sara Jessica Marie Serrano, Dani Victoria Michelle Chio-Ruiz, Tristen Roland Olvera, Ariel Bethany Olvera, Uriah Lucas Chio, and Jeremiah Nathaniel Chio; and her great-grandchildren Nathan, Evelyn, Scarlet, London, Silas, Carlos, Dorian, Liam, and Carmen.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, the 13th of February 2021 at two o’clock in the afternoon at New Life Brownsville Church, 3665 Old Highway 77, Brownsville, Texas 78520. The memorial service will also be streamed live via YouTube under the New Life Brownsville feed.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be made to Phillip A. Chio, cell (956) 204-4936, care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, in memory of Elsa Cisneros Chio.

Memories of Elsa may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.