Lupe Mantz, nee Huerta, 95, of Cahokia, Illinois, born May 1, 1928 in El Paso, Texas, passed away Friday, October 13, 2023, at Delmar Gardens South in St. Louis, Missouri.

In the early morning hours, you would find her sitting on the front porch, drinking coffee, and working her crossword puzzles. In the evenings, she would turn to working on puzzles – the more pieces the better! Every Christmas she baked dozens and dozens of snowball cookies – her specialty! Her legendary sweet tea she made by the gallons and her warm, from-scratch flour tortillas disappeared as soon as they came off the griddle piping hot. Package flour tortillas were never in the pantry! She lived the way her mother taught and showed her. Be a good person, radiate kindness, take care of others, and if nothing else, make sure they have a warm meal.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Mantz; an infant son, Robert L. Mantz, Jr; her parents, Rosendo and Genevieve, nee Rubio, Huerta; three sisters, Concepcion Huerta, Angie Esperanza and Bertha Huerta: two brothers, Jesus Huerta and Rosendo Huerta; and a granddaughter, Nichole Mantz.

Lupe is  survived by her five daughters, Sandra Bishop of Eureka, MO, Sharon Range of Dupo, IL, Linda (Rodney) Gardner of San Antonio, TX, Vickie Hamm of Columbia, IL, and Terri  (Tony) Tongay, of Waterloo, IL; three sons, Jim (Judy) Mantz of Dupo, IL, Kenneth Mantz of Cahokia, IL and Gary (Carol) Mantz, of Evansville, IL; a sister Nieves Acosta, of Midland, TX; two brothers Rodolfo Huerta, of El Paso, TX and Juan "Johnny" Huerta, of El Paso, TX;  12 grandchildren,  22 great grandchildren, 14 great great grandchildren.  She is also a dear sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend.

The family of Lupe would like to express their most sincere gratitude to the staff of Delmar Gardens-South and Pathways Hospice, for the care and love shown both to her and her family.

Friends may visit from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 16, 2023 at Braun Family Funeral Home, Columbia, Illinois.  Funeral services will follow at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home.  Burial will be at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.