Maria Valerio Obituary

Maria Lucinda Valerio, 42, of Dallas, formerly of Lubbock, passed away suddenly on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Maria was born to Samuel and Sara (Lopez) Valerio, on September 29, 1982, in Lubbock, Texas.

She was raised in Lubbock and attended Lubbock High School, where she graduated in 2001. Furthering her education, she attended South Plains College. She then attended Texas Tech University, graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 2005, and then with her Master’s Degree in 2009.

Maria taught pre-K special needs children at Ramirez and Smith elementary schools, before moving to Dallas to teach at Zaragoza elementary school in Dallas. She loved her Dallas Cowboys, and was an animal lover of cats, dogs and fish, as well as listening to soft rock music.

Those left to honor and cherish her memory include her parents, Samuel and Sara Valerio of Lubbock; two brothers: Adrain Valerio and wife Victoria of Lubbock, and Samuel Valerio, Jr., of Odessa; one sister, Christy Morin and husband David of Lubbock; maternal grandmother, Natividad Lopez of Lubbock. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Eustacio and Maria Valerio, and her maternal grandfather, Efrain Lopez.

A time of reflection and visitation will be held from 3 PM to 8 PM on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at the Venue on Broadway, 2202 Broadway, next to Combest Family Funeral Home. The Recitation of the Rosary will be said at 7 PM that evening. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 PM on Friday, at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, 2316 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401, with Fr. John Restrepo, O. P. presiding. Final rites and interment will be held in the City of Lubbock Cemetery under the personal care and direction of Combest Family Funeral Homes.

The pallbearers will be Christopher Ryan Zarazua, Michael Zarazua, Joshua Zarazua, Samuel Zarazua, Adrain Valerio, Jr., and Brendain Valerio.