Sara was born August 25, 1940 in Cd Acuna Coah Mex and went with the Lord on January 7, surrounded by her family. She was the daughter of Ramon and Manuela Mendoza.

She is survived by her children: daughters Nancy Hernandez (Rafael), of Odessa, Sylvia Munoz (Billy) of Mason, Imelda Castillo (Rafael), of Mason, sons: Ismael Duarte, Jr. (GiGi) of Mason, Israel "Ray" Duarte (Victoria) of Mason and David Duarte of Mason. She was blessed with 10 grandsons and 4 granddaughters. Rafael Hernandez Jr (Stephanie James) of Odessa, Tx., Adalverto Hernandez (Thea) of Sweetwater, Tx., Efren Hernandez (Shayla) of Brady Tx., Vedel Munoz (Meagan) of Fort Worth, Tx., Sabrina Carrillo (Kris) of Mason, Tx., Rodrigo Castillo (Robyn) of San Angelo, Tx., Jeremy Duarte (Page) of Mason, Tx., Andy Duarte (Kelsey) of Fredericksburg, Tx., Sandra Duarte (Fernando) of San Antonio, Tx., Ray Duarte Jr.(Ashley) of Mason, Tx., Bryan Duarte (Amelia) of San Angelo, Tx, Brynda Harper (Matthew) of Godley, Tx. Enrique Duarte of Levelland., Tx. and she was also blessed with 21 great grandkids: Ehtan Huse, Addison Hernandez, Chet Hernandez, Rylan Hernandez, Kinsler Castillo, Willow Rose Castillo, Kris, Mila, Lora and Alex Carrillo, Maisyn, Madisyn Duarte, Paisley, Piersen, Paxton Duarte, Brielle, Garrett Harper, Dallas, Blair, Vera Ellen Duarte and Zepher Ismael Torres.

Sara was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years Ismael Duarte (at the time of his death), her granddaughter Laura Castillo, sisters Olivia Cardenas, Etela Torres, Conrada Mendoza and Consuelo Martinez.

Sara was raised in Acuna and Del Rio all her life. She would travel to Levelland Tx to pick cotton in the fields and that's where she met the love of her life Ismael Duarte. Mom would always tell us that dad would travel all the way to Acuna to her from Levelland. Now that was like what Dad used to say (Puro Love). Sara married Ismael on 12-5-1961, started their family and moved to Mason in 1964. Sara was a homemaker and took care of her family and loved cooking during the holiday get-togethers. She worked hard alongside our dad when we went to Memphis, Tx for many years during the summers to hoe cotton. Mom would jar fruits from our fruit trees our dad planted around the house so that in wintertime we would have fresh jelly. She also made us peanut brittle and roasted peanuts on cold winter days. Come November and Christmas time it was empanadas and tamale time at our house. She always wanted to make sure she had some tamales for when her kids would come home. Mom and Dad loved dancing, and she would say after Dad passed away that he would still come see her and take her dancing.

She loved her Mason Punchers. She was always very proud of all her grandsons who played football and one granddaughter who also played football as well as her granddaughter who played in the band and was a cheerleader. She loved taking her morning walks, visits with her coffee drinking compadres, and all her friends she made at the Senior center. There wasn't a stranger she met that Sara didn't make her friend by the end of the day. She would always say "Ya mi hice otra amiga".  She had many nephews and nieces whom all she loved very much.

When it came to her name she fought it all the time. She would always say "and make sure you tell them Sara with No H", every single time it never failed, always came back with Sara with an H on every paper she would receive. So, yea Mom, I'll make sure for now it's (Sara NO-H).

To us Sara was known as Ama, to others Wela.

Love you Mom, we'll miss you and give Apa and Laura a big kiss and hug for us. Till we meet again, Love, your kids.

Visitation with the family will be Monday, January 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home with a Rosary at 6:00.  The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 10, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church.  Interment will follow in the Crosby Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family on-line at masonfuneralhome.net.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Mason Funeral Home