Eloisa (Almendarez) Matthews
Taken from the obituary:
Eloisa Almendarez Matthews, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, counselor, and friend, died at the age of seventy-eight on February 5, 2018, in Austin after fighting multiple illnesses in recent years. Despite the toll her many health challenges took, she remained joyful and sought meaningful connections with the many people in her life.
Eloisa was born on July 11, 1939, near Port Lavaca, Texas. At seventeen, she moved to Houston, where she became a long-time resident, to earn a nursing degree. In the years that followed, she became a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse, earned a Masters in Psychology and became a Certified Relapse Prevention Specialist to further her life’s work of helping countless people and families in inpatient and outpatient therapeutic settings battle and heal from addiction. She had a significant presence in the AA community of Houston and maintained a private practice well into her seventies.
She will be missed by the many people she touched. May the gifts of love and acceptance she gave remain with them always, and may her generosity of spirit inspire us all to live with an open and forgiving heart.
Eloisa was preceded in death by her former spouse, Dr. Glenn B. Matthews.