Anna María Herrera Saldaña, September 16, 1934 - November 29, 2021, lived 31,851 days or 87 years, two months and 13 days in the dash of her life. Her presence produced an abundance of the great Fruit of the Spirit.

She personified love and the Holy Bible's Book of Proverbs 31:10-31 Poem on the Woman of Worth. She was a Godly Woman. This is her story. This is her song.

Anna María Herrera Saldaña was born on September 16, 1934 in Dallas, TX to Jesús and Cristina Herrera. Her beautiful soul went to an eternal dwelling in our Lord's Kingdom from her South Austin, TX home on November 29, 2021.

Anna María's parents emigrated from Mexico to Texas in 1918. Her father, Jesús Herrera, was born in Villaldama, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on April 10, 1906; he lived to be 66 years old. Her mother, Cristina (Cano) Herrera, was born in Unión de San Antonio, Jalisco, Mexico, on July 24, 1904; she lived to be 73 years of age. Anna María was the fourth-borne child to the Herrera's with two sisters and three brothers who were also born in Dallas, TX: María de Jesús Castillo, Felicitas Contreras, Juan Herrera, [Anna María], Pedro Herrera, and the youngest, Daniel Herrera. In 1947, she relocated to Austin, TX with her family. Her father worked at the Driskill Hotel in Austin for many years and was eventually named Head Chef. Despite having no formal education, her mother taught herself to read and write English. Cristina Herrera's commitment to education and continuous learning was well inculcated in her children. Fearful that Anna María would have to drop out of high school to find work in support of the Herrera Family's needs, her older sisters, Mary (María) and Felicitas chose instead to support her while she completed her education. Their support and dedication of her educational goals were later repaid ten-fold by their younger sister. Anna Maria completed her Austin public school tutelage graduating from Austin High School on May 30, 1952.

The day of her birth occurred on the 16th day of September 1934, which was the 124th anniversary of Diez y Seis de Septiembre, the Mexican Independence Day from Spanish rule. She gleefully claimed during a Herrera family's trip to Mexico that the merriment and fireworks that took place on the Diez y Seis celebration was in her honor. Today, Heavenly Hosts are celebrating her rebirth into an eternal life with her.

Also in 1947, the Herrera Family joined the parish community of the San José Catholic Church. Anna María was active in several San José ministries throughout her life including service as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion; Lector of the Word; Director of the Wake Rosary Ministry; Sociedades Guadalupanas (Guadalupana Society); the Jamaica Committee; and as a Founding Member of the Pastoral Council. She loved to sing and joyfully praised her Savior with the voice of an angel in the Church Choir. Anna María made several pilgrimages with her family and friends to venerate the image of the Immaculate Conception in the Church of San de los Lagos, near Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

Then there was the Tejano Love Story that spanned 64 glorious years once Anna María eyed a good-looking sharp dressed young man from East Austin at a bus stop in downtown Austin they commonly used. She later met this tall dark and handsome man in the Fall of 1952 at a San José Church event. The presumed bad boy from the East Side was sternly questioned on the status of his employment by Anna María's father after their relationship began to flourish and he asked Jesús for permission to marry his youngest daughter. On February 15, 1957, she received the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony when she wed Moses Pérez Saldaña Sr. (née Moses Pérez Saldaña). They initially resided in Austin after their wedding, later moved to San Antonio before their final return to their beloved South Austin where they lived the remainder of her life. Their blessed union yielded a bounty of 10 children, six girls and four boys: Pamela (Gary) Jentz, Deborah (Robert) Hernandez, Ernestine "Tina" (Charles) Camarillo, Moses Jr. (Kerry) Saldaña, Jacqueline (Marina Lopez) Saldaña, Mark Sr. (Kim) Saldaña, AnaMaría (John) Lawrence, Michael "Mike" Saldaña, Mario (Pamela) Saldaña, and Mia (Randy) Boyer. Altogether, the Saldaña's have created to date a legacy of 19 grandchildren, three bonus grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and three bonus great grandchildren.

Moses Sr. and Anna María Saldaña were actively involved in their children's activities in the Austin public schools. During those years, she served in the PTA as Vice President and as Treasurer. Mrs. Saldaña was a remarkable wife, mother and Granny. She was an amazing cook and her made-from-scratch carrot cake was priceless. When asked for the location of the best Tex-Mex food in Austin, Moses Sr. would confidently reply, "My house." It is also reputed that Mrs. Saldaña's world-famous homemade salsa was the best in the State of Texas. Her personal recipe remains a highly guarded Saldaña Family secret. She enjoyed combing the beaches and grounds during her travels around the United States collecting seashells and heart-shaped rocks. She claimed Anna Maria Island on the Gulf Coast of Florida as her own. Her hands were especially designed by God to comfort babies; placing pen to paper to form her beautiful handwriting; expertly scratch itchy backs with her perfectly manicured fingernails; professionally apply her lipstick; speedily peck away on either a vintage typewriter or newer computer keyboard; applying the lost art of taking stenography dictation; make and roll tortillas with ease to feed the hungry horde of her '10 Wild Indians' that constantly surrounded her; heal wounds with her touch and application of 'Monkey Blood' [Mecurochrome]; place ribbons and bows in the hair of her daughters and granddaughters; and sooth the aches of sore little backsides and feet. She had a gorgeous smile that would light up a room with joy and love from her heart. Her love for her husband was unconditional and it showed. She routinely commanded Moses Sr. to, "GET LITTLE!", that is to crouch down to enable her to kiss him without raising up on her toes to reach the face of her significantly taller spouse. They were skilled dance partners and enjoyed many outings with their friends to local dance halls and events in the Austin area. Anna María has always acknowledged that her greatest strength was her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who has sustained her tireless spirit and charitable works throughout her 87 years as a wife, mother, Granny and employee of the University of Texas Law School. Her mantra was "P.U.S.H.", which is to 'Pray.Until.Something.Happens'. Anna María followed the formula found in the Holy Bible's Gospel according to Matthew Chapter 25:31-46 for her salvation into God's presence. We would all be wise to follow her lead into the Gates of Heaven.

Anna María was hired at the University of Texas School of Law on October 1, 1964 as one of the first Hispanic employees at the State of Texas' flagship law school. She began her employment as a faculty secretary for several professors and later worked as Dean Byron Fullerton's assistant for several years. She then served decades as the assistant to the Scholarships Committee under Dean T.J. Gibson and Professor Barbara Aldave. In 1990, when the Law School created its own Financial Aid Office, Mrs. Saldaña was designated as its sole counselor for the 1,100 students receiving financial aid. She became the Director when the office grew to three counselors who processed all grants, loans and scholarships for Law School students. Over the span of her career, Mrs. Saldaña served as counselor for over 6,000 students with aspirations to become lawyers. Generations of law students at the University of Texas School of Law have benefited from her generous spirit and commitment to their welfare. She had been honored by many student organizations at the Law School. Mrs. Saldaña was named by the student body as the Honoree for Law Week and had been given lifetime honorary memberships in the Chicano Hispanic Law Students Association and the Thurgood Marshall Legal Society. An Endowed Presidential Scholarship has been established in her name at the Law School. The Anna María Saldaña Endowed Scholarship in Law Fund will be a permanent recognition of her service and commitment to the school and provide an heirloom of her compassion for education to future UT Law students. Mrs. Anna María Saldaña retired after 35 years with the Law School on October 1, 1999.

Mrs. Saldaña was preceded in death by her parents, Jesús and Cristina Herrera; her five siblings; her son, Mark Sr.; a daughter-in-law, Marlene Saldaña; and a bonus great grandchild, Penelope Winsman. Her funeral services have been placed in the care of Harrell Funeral Home located at 4435 Frontier Trail, Austin, TX 78745. Public Visitation will be 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. with Vigil Prayers and Rosary to begin at 7:00 P.M. in the Harrell Funeral Home Chapel on December 9, 2021; this event will end at 9:00 P.M. The Requiem Mass will be held at the San José Catholic Church located at 2435 Oak Crest Avenue, Austin, TX 78704 on December 10, 2021, at 10:00 A.M. For those unable to attend, the Mass will be viewable via San José Catholic Church livestream broadcast through Facebook and YouTube [search for sanjosechurch.org]. Interment will follow at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park located at 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, TX 78749. A Repast will be offered for family and friends of Mrs. Saldaña at the San José Church Parish Hall on December 10, 2021 beginning at 1:00 P.M.

Pallbearers escorting their beloved mother throughout the funeral service are her sons: Moses P. Saldaña Jr., Michael P. Saldaña, and Mario P. Saldaña with Mark P. Saldaña Sr. flying overwatch from his Heavenly vantage point. Additional Pallbearers are her Sons-in-Law: Gary Jentz, Robert Hernandez, Charles Camarillo, John Lawrence and Randy Boyer. Honorary Pallbearers include her Grandsons: Javier Salas, Joseph Camarillo, Moses P. Saldaña III, Mark P. Saldaña Jr., Esteban Salas, Matthew Lawrence, and Jacob Boyer; and Tomás Salas.

Moses Saldaña Sr. and his family wish to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the Encompass Home Health, the Encompass Health-Hospice Teams and to Paul Williamson and staff of the Harrell Funeral Home for their professional caregiving and kindness with their beloved Anna María. A special thanks to Kerry Falan, Gracie Lopez, Maggie Seabaugh, Chaplain Bruce Liniger and all the Encompass Health-Hospice Team who provided the most benevolent care. Their actions will remain a cherished memory.

In lieu of flowers, the Saldaña Family requests consideration for donations in honor of Mrs. Saldaña to the Anna María Saldaña Endowed Scholarship in Law Fund. Donations can be processed online at https://give.utexas.edu/?menu=OGPLOGS&comments=Anna%20Saldana%20Endowment, or by directing personal check via USPS mailing to University of Texas at Austin, P.O. Box 65080, San Antonio, TX 78265-9724. The UT Endowments Team can be contacted at 1-866-488-3927 for additional assistance.