Maria de Jesus Montez, (nee Abella) 85, passed away February 11, 2010 at Mercy St. Charles Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Maria was born in Monterrey, Mexico on May 10, 1924 to Eustolio and Francisca (Rivera) Abella. Maria was a member of AARP and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Maria was the oldest of 8 children. Being the oldest she was responsible in helping to raise all of her siblings. She was only able to attend school through the 2nd grade, but helped make sure all her siblings got an education. She was a hard working woman, working the fields (picking cotton for one) in her youth and working as a domestic in her late teens. Maria met and married her husband of 52 years in 1947 and together they had 6 children. She raised her children with 'an iron hand' and expected only the best from them. She and her husband instilled in them an honest work ethic - a good day's work, for a good day's pay, and for that, their memory will always be cherished and honored. After retirement from Hirzel Canning Company, Maria spent time doing what she loved the most – tending to her flower beds. She had the most beautiful rose bushes, geraniums and petunias. People would often stop just to admire her flowers and to ask her what her secret was. She also enjoyed cooking traditional Mexican foods as well as trying new recipes that she'd seen on the cooking channel. She loved her Mexican music and enjoyed whistling along to the tunes. Maria is survived by her children, Nestor Jr. (Mary Lou), Maria (Mario) Hernandez, Rolando (Luz), Isabel, Margarita (Mario) Duran, and Sylvia; brothers, Eustolio Jr., Angel, Leo; sisters, Manuela Abella and Ofelia Kuss. Also survived by 24 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. She will also be missed by her very special friend, Magdalena Garcia, her neighbors, and her many friends. Maria was preceded in death by her husband, Nestor Sr.; brother Martin and sister Mickey Fierro. Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 14, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Eggleston Meinert Pavley Funeral Home, Oregon Chapel, 440 S. Coy Rd. Oregon, Ohio. Prayers will begin Monday at 9:15 a.m. in the funeral home and proceed to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 729 White St., Toledo, Ohio for Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am. Interment to follow at Restlawn Memorial Park. Memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio, or St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Maria's family thanks everyone who was so kind to our mother, from all of her physicians, to the people at Davita Dialysis Center in Northwood, to all of the hospital staff who made her as comfortable as possible in her last days at Mercy St. Charles Hospital.