Dr. Maria Filomena Leo

Dr. Maria Filomena "Mena" Leo, 76, died peacefully at home to enter eternal grace on February 1, 2026. A lifelong educator and learner, community leader, and devoted disciple of God, she worked for more than three decades in public schools throughout the Rio Grande Valley and actively served her community through various civic and religious organizations. She proudly earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas Pan American, now UTRGV.

A daughter of San Benito, Texas, she came to La Joya when she married William "Billy" Leo, who shared her commitment to public service. After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Pan American University in Edinburg, now UTRGV, she worked for the Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District. Eventually, she came to the La Joya public school system, where she served as counselor, principal, teacher, and superintendent. After her retirement from La Joya ISD, she continued serving the region as an interim superintendent for various districts including Sharyland, Raymondville, San Benito, Weslaco, Donna, Monte Alto, Dilley, and Mercedes.

Dr. Leo believed deeply in the power of education to expand opportunity, strengthen families, and unify communities. This holistic view came from her lived experience as a migrant and her early work advancing parental involvement in schools. Her leadership style—grounded in calm steadiness, high expectations, and care for students—left a lasting imprint on the educators she mentored and the generations of students who passed through La Joya schools.

To her family, she was the chief dog whisperer to the furry grandkids who flocked to her calm demeanor in an otherwise chaotic household. She was the ringleader of endless puns and possessor of biting wit. An exchange could go through various rounds, like an edge-of-your-seat, Wimbledon match until someone found themselves strangled in a string of words that no longer made sense. And then we laughed. It will ring hollow now.

Dr. Leo is preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Democrat Billy Leo, who no doubt was anxious to have his better half join his celestial activism; her parents Eugenio Cañas and Estefana Elena Figueroa; and her brothers Fr. Gene, Ramiro, Ramon, Roberto, and Reynaldo. She is survived by her children Noralisa (Eduardo Herranz) of Arlington, VA; Michael (Erica) of Palmview, TX; Lita of McAllen, TX; Billy Jr. (Anne) of Cedar Park, TX; and Letty (Rey Treviño) of Austin, TX; six grandchildren; her brothers Eduardo, Hermerejildo, and Jose; and her sisters Frances, Magdalena, and Edna.

Visitation will be held Thursday, February 5, at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home from 4:00 to 7:00pm. The funeral mass is scheduled for Friday February 6, at Our Lady Queen of Angeles Church in La Joya, followed by interment at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery.