Antonia Margarita Shepard, 90, passed away on Friday, August 20, 2021 in Arlington.
Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 31, at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, 1200 S. Davis Drive, Arlington. Interment: 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 31 at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas. Visitation: 4-8 p.m. Monday, August 30 at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington.
Memorials: Memorial gifts may be made to The Discalced Carmelite Nuns, 5801 Mt. Carmel Drive, Arlington 76017 or Society of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Maria Goretti Conference.
Antonia was born on October 18, 1930 in Arecibo, Puerto Rico to Andress Stuart and Felicita Salaberrios Stuart. She proudly served as a nurse in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. She moved to the Metroplex from Austin during the 90's. Antonia retired as an adoption social worker for the State of Texas after 28 years of service. She also worked in the office at St. Matthew Catholic Church as a Spanish speaking liaison.
She served on the Martin Luther King Committee for The Diocese of Fort Worth; was a delegate for the National Black Catholic Congress; served on the auxiliary for the Carmelite Nuns; and volunteered at the Food Bank. Antonia was professed as a Third Order Lay Carmelite with the St. Teresa Benedicta Order.
She loved to dance and travel; and enjoyed classical music. She was a Puerto Rican loving mother who was a Scrabble genius and taught herself how to play the organ. She was always willing to lend a helping hand. Antonia loved people and had a huge heart. She loved parties and family get-togethers. She attended Mardi Gras ball and dance sponsored by The Knights of Peter Claver FT Worth Council every year.
Antonia was preceded in death by her parents; 3 brothers; and 5 sisters.
Survivors: Daughters, Yvette Shepard and Alicia Thomas and husband, Jerome; grandsons, Brian Clifton Jones and Jordan Shepard; granddaughter, Alana Denise Jones; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Wade Family Funeral Home
(817) 274-9233