Obituary of Elda Balli Renteria

Elda Balli Renteria, 91, passed away Sunday, September 24, 2023. She is preceded in death by her father Emilio Balli; mother Refugia Aguilar Balli; loving husband Ramon A. Renteria Sr.; son Ramon Renteria Jr.; brothers Emilio Balli Jr., Clemente Balli; sisters Dora Saldivar, Julia Gonzales, Ofelia Munoz.   Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Lizette Gonzalez (Julian); brother Ramiro Balli (Esther); sisters Arminda Rangel (Mario), Berta Garza; grandchildren Justin Gonzalez, Lauren Gonzalez, and a host of many other family and friends.

Elda was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who cherished her family. She was strong and hardworking. She worked in the fields from a young age picking cotton, corn, wheat, carrots, and squash. She even helped to keep the fields irrigated. Elda also fed and cared for the pigs, cows, goats, and horses on the farm. Growing up she rode horses with her siblings, sometimes there were 5 kids at a time on the same horse. Elda met the love of her life on her family’s farm. Ramon worked for her father, and he did not approve of their relationship. They were truly in love, so they eloped to Mexico when Elda was 30.

They eventually moved to Pearland, Texas, where Ramon began working on rice farms and Elda was a wonderful homemaker who did all sorts of odd jobs to help make ends meet. She babysat all the neighborhood kids; some even called her Mama Elda and kept in touch with her over the years. Elda was a wonderful cook. She made the best tamales and sold dozens upon dozens for many years! She also made the best tortillas around! A seamstress as well, she sewed not only clothes, but made dolls, sock monkeys, and all sorts of crafts. Elda loved to crochet and created many throw blankets and butterfly magnets. No task was ever too difficult for her “Nada se le dificultaba”. In her spare time, Elda collected dolls and she loved dogs.

Her children were the apple of her eye, and she loved them unconditionally. When the grandchildren came, they became her whole world. Elda would often say “when you have grandkids you feel a love even greater than that of your own children.” In her later years, she spent her days crocheting, loving her grandkids, and trying to keep as busy as her body and mind would allow. Elda will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Services for Elda will be held at Clayton Funeral Home, 5530 West Broadway, Pearland, Texas. Visitation is scheduled Thursday, September 28, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. The funeral service will be held on Friday, September 29^th, at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at Alvin Confederate Cemetery.