Theresa Arriaga

Theresa Vanegas Arriaga, age 74 of Temple, passed from this life Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple. Services will be held Friday, March 17, 2023, at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple with a visitation starting at 1 pm and funeral service to follow at 2 pm. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery.

Theresa was born on May 1, 1948, to Edward and Mary (Nieto) Vanegas in Marlin, Texas. She married Eleazar Arriaga, Jr. in 1969.  Theresa was a teacher’s aide for Temple I.S.D. for 45 years, working at Scott Elementary for at least 40 of those years.  She was affectionately known to students, parents and staff as “Grandma”.  She was a member of Goodwill Baptist Church (Buena Voluntad) in Temple and was the church pianist. Theresa was a member of Baptist Women’s groups, both local and elsewhere, and was a member of the Bell County Retired School Employees Association. She also previously volunteered for Scott & White Hospice. She was a kind, and loving person, always doing for others.  Everywhere she went, she shared God’s message of love and was a shining example to all she met. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Theresa is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Mary Vanegas.

Survivors include her husband, Eleazar Arriaga, Jr.; son, Eleazar “Alec” Arriaga III; and sisters, Virginia Dye, Lil Edwards, and Mary Gonzales.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Baylor Scott & White Hospital, 7th floor North Tower nurses, Rev. Isidro Carranza, the members of Goodwill Baptist, and her many friends from various churches that have been so supportive through this time.