Maricela Ochoa, 48, of Austin, Texas went home to be with the Lord on October 10, 2011. Maricela, an actress, always wanted to play Frida Kahlo on stage or film. Like Kahlo, Mari was proudly Mexican, beautiful, tough, deeply spiritual, and artistic—she was a life force and an original. Mari ran with the bulls in Pamplona, was known to smoke cigars, and played a mean game of pool.
Mari was born on the island of Galveston, Texas on April 9, 1963. A graduate of Galveston Ball High School and New York University, Mari was an artist and an actress in numerous theater, film and TV productions. She was also a director, producer, writer, performer and choreographer in theatres in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston-Galveston and across the United States. She was a founding member and associate director of Teatro Vista, in Chicago. She was a Big Mountain Sun Dancer, dancing on the Navajo and Denae Indian Land.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Alicia Maria Ochoa; nieces, Lisa Marie Rodriguez and Sarah Rodriguez.
Mari is survived by her parents, Enrique and Alicia R. Ochoa; husband, Mark Henderson; her brother, Reynaldo E. Ochoa – his children, daughter, Leticia M. Ochoa Carroll and husband Sean, son, Reynaldo E. Ochoa, Jr. (Roxana Valencia), brother, Dr. Alfonso Ochoa and wife Yolanda, children, Alfonso R. Ochoa and wife Lillie and children Isabella and Daniel; Patricia A. Davis and husband Joshua and son Eric; Lizette A. Maldonado and husband Javier; sister, Juanita I. Rodriguez and husband Jacinto Rodriguez - children Ricardo R. Rodriguez and wife Veronica and children- Julian, Kailey and Alyson; and Christina A. Rodriguez; sister Elizabeth Ochoa - children Erin E. Lopez (Sarah Cypher), Conrad E. Lopez and Marisa I. Lopez; sister Oralia "Chacha" O. Guerrero and husband Jose - children Omar D. Guerrero and Lina R. Guerrero.
Mari's family extends their special thanks to Fr. Bill Wack, C.S.C., Fr. Michael Couhig, C.S.C. and Fr. James Martin, C.S.C. of St. Ignatius, Martyr Catholic Church for their spiritual guidance and support to Mari and her family; also a very special gratitude to Hospice Austin staff, doctors and nurses at M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital and Mari's "CRHP" sisters and brothers at St. Ignatius.
Family will receive visitors from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 South Congress Avenue with Recitation of the Holy Rosary to begin at 7:00 pm. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Ignatius, Martyr Catholic Church 10:00 am Friday, October 14, 2011 with Fr. Bill Wack, C.S.C. officiating. Reception will follow at San Jose Catholic Church Community Center, 2435 Oak Crest Avenue, Austin, Texas 78704.
Interment will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Cordi Marian Sisters Resurrection Cemetery , 11624 West FM 471 OFC501, San Antonio, Texas 78253.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78759; M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486 Houston, TX 77210; or St. Ignatius, Martyr Catholic Church Building Fund, 2309 Euclid Avenue, Austin, TX 78704; Big Mountain Sun Dancers c/o Sara Katenay P.O. Box 31 Mesa, Arizona 86043.