Elena Calvillo Howard

Elena Calvillo Howard was born on April 3, 1944 in México City to José Calvillo and Edith Capri de Calvillo. She passed away on June 23,2025 in New Braunfels, TX. Elena was a person who put others first and always wanted to lend a hand to people in need. She loved children and her passion was teaching. As a young girl, she could be found playing pretend school with her toys or with other children. That led to long career in teaching where she always put her students’ needs first. Elena was a professional volunteer and spent her time helping those less fortunate than her. As someone who spoke 3 languages, she loved applying that skill to help translate for migrant families in need. She advocated for those who needed a voice and were
unable to communicate in English.

Elena loved traveling as she grew up with a family who lived in a number of different countries. Her father, José Calvillo, worked for the Mexican government and by the time she was 6 months old they were living in Canada. They continued to move for his work to México, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Panama. They loved Latin America but when the opportunity arose to move to Europe, they moved to Sweden and then Elena attended boarding school in Switzerland. At the age of 16, the family moved again-this time to New York City- where she attended Forrest Hills High School in Queens. She graduated and went to Amherst College in Connecticut until the family was relocated to the Mexican Consulate in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There she attended UNM and married.

Elena had 2 children, Anna and Andrés, and after leaving Albuquerque they moved to Guadalajara, México before landing in Fredericksburg, Texas. It was in Fredericksburg where Elena touched the lives of hundreds of students and had such a positive impact on the Spanish speaking migrant community. She served on the Community Needs Council, was an advocate for those struggling with substance abuse in their households, and organized mentors for students. Her pride and joy were her children and her grandchildren. She was always proud of their accomplishments and ensured that they too were fully bilingual and bicultural.

In 1984, Elena became a naturalized United States citizen. Becoming a U.S. citizen was one of her proudest moments. She loved this country and being able to participate in elections was something she felt very strongly about. She knew that voting was a privilege and one that she never took lightly but fully embraced. Even in the years when she was unable to vote in person, she followed the procedures to request mail in ballots and would proudly exercise her right to vote.

Elena was preceded in death by her father, José Calvillo, her mother, Edith Capri de Calvillo, and her brother, Luis Carlos Calvillo. She is survived by her daughter Anna (Howard) Williams, her husband Patrick and their children: Christopher and Lauren (New Braunfels, TX) and her son Andrés Capra his wife Aimee and their children: Marisol, Joshua, Anthony, and Mia (Bentonville, Arkansas), as well as her niece, Maria (Calvillo) Herring (Dallas), and nephews José and Luis Calvillo (México DF).

The family would like to ask that in lieu of flowers donations be made to two very special locations in New Braunfels, TX: Eden Hill Communities in New Braunfels as they provided the utmost care and attention in her last years or to Hope Hospice of New Braunfels who also were instrumental in her last weeks.

https://www.edenhill.org/donate-now
https://www.hopehospice.net