Maria Antonia "Toni" Cantu Pena

In the morning of October 16, 2023, our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Maria Antonia "Toni" Cantu Pena entered into eternal rest at the age of 79. Her final days were spent at her home in San Juan, Texas.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Cruz and Ascension Anaya Cantu; two brothers, Manuel Nereo Cantu, Adolfo Jesus Cantu; and a sister, Maria Magdalena "Maruquita" Cantu.
Toni is survived by her four children, Mirta Caballero of Arizona, Linda Ann Caballero of San Juan, Andres "Andy" (Missy) Caballero and Herminia "Minnie" (Sam) de la Garza, both of Edinburg; six grandchildren, Christopher (Amanda) Balderston, Morgan Balderston, Logan Caballero, Jordan Caballero, Derek de la Garza, Tessa de la Garza; and five great-grandchildren. She had five brothers, Mario A. (Olivia) Cantu, Oscar M. (Josie) Cantu Sr., Cruz (Oralia) Cantu III, Carlos (Concha) Cantu, Raul (Diana) Cantu, a loving sister, Janie Cantu (Romeo) Cuellar, and two sisters-in-law, Mary Cantu and Raquel Cantu.
Toni lived an incredible life as a devoted paraprofessional in the PSJA school district for 25 years and was an award-winning AVON sales representative for over 35 years. Being a devout Catholic, she dedicated herself wholeheartedly to her faith community. She found solace and purpose in her service to God, and was a committed parishioner at St. John's the Baptist Church in San Juan. She was active in the church choir, the soup kitchen and the A.C.T.S community. Her deep spirituality touched the lives of everyone she met.
Her family would like to say a special thank you to the staff and nurses that cared for her throughout her battle with cancer, especially The Heights of Alamo, Rio Grande Regional Hospital, A Healing Touch Home Hospice, and her caregiver, Alicia Regalado.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., with a 6 p.m. rosary Thursday, October 19, 2023, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, October 20, 2023, at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Pharr. Interment will follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission on Taylor Rd.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.