Lilia G. Cruz

Lilia Gonzalez Cruz, 91, of Waco passed away Friday, October 18, 2024. She was born March 18, 1933 in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico to Martin Gonzalez and Margarita Benavidez. Lilia attended school in Nuevo Laredo, but more importantly she met her "media naranja" (other half), Juan Cruz. 

Juan was born in Elk, Texas near Waco, and was living in Mexico with his parents who had moved for work opportunities. When the Cruz family decided to return to Texas in 1952, Juan told his parents he would not leave without Lilia. Within two weeks Juan and Lilia were married and moved to Waco where they would raise four children. 

Lilia enjoyed playing Bingo and loved to travel. She and Juan traveled regularly with their friends Delia and Silverio Trujillo, flying to Las Vegas and cruising to Cancun and once to the Dominican Republic. Lilia even traveled to Spain! Most of all she enjoyed spending time with Juan. 

In 1965, Juan and Lilia opened their store, Cruz Drive In at 826 S. 11th Street. Together they served the South Waco community for 42 years until Juan's passing in 2007. Lilia continued to run the store with her family until 2020, when she decided to close due to Covid-19.

Lilia was preceded in death by her husband, Juan Cruz; son, Juan Miguel Cruz; daughter, Esmeralda Garcia; grandmother who raised her, Mama Ramona Martinez de Benavidez; her parents; two brothers; and one sister.

She is survived by her daughter, Diana Hernandez and husband, Rudy; son, Leonardo Cruz; brothers, Oscar, Roberto, and Rolando; and sister, Margot. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers are Leonardo Cruz, Jason Vela, Rodolfo Hernandez, Jr., Lee Garcia, Miguel Cruz, Jeremiah Vela, and Angelo Rodriguez. Honorary pallbearers are Jacob Vela, Nicholas Garcia, Marcelo Ethridge, Damian Ethridge, Matthew Hernandez, Nicho Rodriguez, Santiago Hernandez, and Jace Cruz.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Ridgecrest Retirement and Healthcare and the doctors, nurses, and caregivers from Interim Hospice for the love, support and excellent care given to Lilia.