Maria Delgado Torres

On July 19, 2025, Maria Delgado Torres, took her last breath and entered the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ while at home surrounded by family. We share this news with a deep sense of sadness and loss, yet we know this is Maria’s gain.

Maria was born in 1933, to Juan and Rosa Delgado. She was a lifelong resident of New Braunfels as her family lived in New Braunfels since 1919. She was one of nine, preceded in death by her eight siblings.

She was a remarkable woman who was loving, humble, caring, selfless, always had a smile and hug, sharing Jesus with all she encountered. After marriage, she came to the saving grace of Jesus Christ when she sent her 3 young sons to a nearby mission church, Primera Iglesia Baptista, founded in 1954. When she accepted Christ, she became passionate in her desire to share the good news. Many were impacted by her life and testimony. She turned to music to reach people for Christ. She started with her own children first, Isaias learning guitar, but he wanted to play in a conjunto band, and her response was “If you can’t play for Jesus then you are not playing for the world”. Then came music lessons for each of her children. She couldn’t afford music lessons for herself, so she studied the books from her children’s music lessons and taught herself to play the piano and guitar as well.

She involved all her children in church activities, from serving as church pianist, directing music or helping with summer vacation bible school. As a lifelong member of Primera Iglesia Baptista, she was a Sunday School teacher and director for many years.

She led and participated in various outreach programs at the Colonial Manor nursing home, Solms Neighborhood backyard bible studies, and many mission trips to Mexico. Maria was involved in the Church choir, always having a desire to sing her praises to the Lord. She was a prayer warrior for all those around her and those that God put in her path. She led a life we all strive to reach one where her riches were not about her, but about those that needed to know Jesus to achieve what the world cannot give.

Maria is survived by her children, Isaias Torres (Nidia), Israel Torres (Connie), Able Torres Jr, Elsa Gonzales (Ramon dec’d), Belinda Ayala (Tony) and Elizabeth Martinez (Roy). She is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Special thanks to Hope Hospice of New Braunfels caregivers, Evette, Sylvia, Maria, Mary, Rachel, Rose and Maria dela Luz. The family also wants to express their gratitude to Marcos for his companionship to Maria.

A viewing and service will take place this Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, followed by a celebration of Maria’s life from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, with family and friends at Primera Iglesia Baptista, 2080 W San Antonio St., New Braunfels, Texas.

We believe that Maria is now in heaven. We mourn for our broken world, where so much hate and destruction abound. We have a cancer called sin. The disease that kills the body is minor, but the disease that kills the soul is eternal. Maria would want more than anything else that we carry the message of Jesus to help change the world. Only then can we understand that the sad news of Maria’s death is temporary.

The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said it well.

Life is real! life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal.
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.