Obituary of Carmen B. Tostado

Carmen Brambila Tostado, of Pearland, formerly of Friendswood TX, passed away on Friday, February 4, 2011 at the age of 86 years. Her husband Daniel, preceded her in death by only one week. She is survived by her seven children, Daniel B. Tostado and wife Janice, Diana Tostado Morris, Gloria Tostado, Ernest Tostado, Evangelina Tostado Hammonds, Martha Tostado Sparks and husband Richard, and Joseph Tostado. She has 9 grandchildren: Danny, Jeffrey, and Esteban Tostado, Nicolas, Jared and Kendra Tostado, Adam Hammonds, Brian Sparks, and Giselle Tostado. She also has 7 great grandchildren: Ryan and Riley Tostado, Jacob, Katelyn and Madison Tostado, Aubree Tostado, and Jaydon Tostado. Carmen was from a family of 8 and is survived by younger brothers Chimino Brambila Villanueva and his wife Rica, Elias Brambila Villanueva and wife Anita, who reside in Mexico City. She had numerous friends and family throughout Mexico and the states. Carmen was born in Ameca, Jalisco, Mexico on August 26, 1924 to Rita Villanueva Beas and Maximino Brambila Castro. She was one of two sisters and six brothers: Josefina Brambila Villanueva and her husband Ramon, Miguel Brambila Villanueva and his wife Maria del Carmen, Justo Brambila Villanueva and his wife Carmen, Salvador Brambila Villanueva and his wife Jesus, Eliodoro Brambila Villanueva and wife Piedad, Maximino Brambila Villanueva and his wife Rica, and Elias Brambila Villanueva and his wife Anita. As a young woman, Carmen enjoyed participating in Ameca’s town festivities and was respected and loved for her charm and beauty. She met her future husband, Daniel Alvarez Tostado, who would bring “serenatas” to her home with great frequency. Shortly after her 18th birthday, she and Daniel married on September 18, 1942 at the town’s cathedral. They were married for 68 years. In 1948, Daniel and Carmen permanently relocated to Friendswood, Texas from Ameca. Carmen was a dedicated and loving mother to all her children, and provided a strong sense of family direction and guidance. To her husband, she provided strength, reasoning, and a sense of purpose to his entrepreneurial spirit. Though only educated through the 4th grade, Carmen showed wisdom and kindness of heart to both family and friends. She took pride in her cooking and even more pride in being able to prepare delicious meals for others. One could never come over to Carmen and Dan’s home and leave hungry. For most of her life, Carmen was a rancher’s wife taking on multiple tasks in order to help her husband provide for the family. She worked tirelessly in the fields picking crops on the ranch, she learned how to make homemade cheese to sell and bring in extra income, and she was a compassionate caregiver to her in-laws and uncle in-law. But ranch life also brought joyous and memorable times, as she and Dan hosted many parties. Good food, good drink and good music were enjoyed by many friends and family. On several occasions, Carmen and Daniel would entertain by singing their favorite songs in Spanish. Carmen and Daniel were members of St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Pearland and for many years, Carmen participated as a member of the Women’s Spanish Prayer Group. The family will have a viewing at Clayton’s Funeral Home at 5530 W. Broadway in Pearland, Sunday, February 6, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. followed by a rosary at 7:00 p.m. Her husband, Daniel, passed away on Friday, January 28, 2011 and the family has befittingly chosen to have a Mass in honor of them both at St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Pearland. Mass is at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 7, followed by the funeral service at Forest Park East Cemetery in Webster. Six of Carmen and Daniel’s grandchildren will serve as pallbearers: Danny C. Tostado, Jeffrey Tostado, Esteban Tostado, Jared Tostado, Adam Hammonds, and Brian Sparks. Additional pallbearers include: Smiley Gonzales, Miguel Brambila, Martin Brambila, Albert Gonzales