[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 113 (Friday, July 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE LIFE OF ELOISA CORONADO. A LIFE OF 100 YEARS.

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                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 24, 2009

  Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to share with you and 
celebrate the life of Eloisa Coronado from Zapata, Texas. Eloisa will 
be turning 100 years old this 31st of July, making her the oldest 
registered voter in Zapata County.
  Born in 1909, she lived in a time when you still had to ride in a 
mule wagon to go into town for groceries. At age 9, her father died of 
Tetanus, leaving Eloisa to drop out of the third grade to help her 
mother raise her 4 younger sisters.
  On January 1, 1926, she married Benito Martinez and eventually had 9 
children. They ran a farm together raising cattle, planting corn and 
selling milk and eggs.
  Living to be 100 naturally comes with hardship. Mrs. Coronado has 
outlived 4 sons, her 4 sisters, a half brother, 1 grandson and 3 
daughters-in-law. As one can imagine, such pain has been difficult. But 
Eloisa's faith as well as the joy of her family of 27 grandchildren, 44 
great-grandchildren and 43 great-great-grandchildren has kept her 
spirits up.
  As a devoted believer, Eloisa has taught her family to have a strong 
faith, to be honest and to love one another. About her age and her 
life, she tells family members, ``These hands will reach out for the 
Lord's hands when He calls me Home.''
  Madam Speaker, it is my honor to publicly celebrate the 100th 
birthday of Eloisa Coronado of Zapata Texas.

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