Hermelinda Salas

On Sunday, December 28, 2025, our feisty, fierce, loyal-to-a-fault, sharp-tongued, no-nonsense mother gained her angel wings. Heaven just got a little louder, and her welcoming committee must have been something special.

In her younger years, she developed a love for sewing—a craft she learned at a very young age. What began with making clothes for her dolls soon grew into sewing for herself, her sister, and cousins. Eventually, neighbors came to her to mend and make clothes. In later years, she took great pride in making clothes for her grandchildren, who wore them just as proudly. She also enjoyed ceramics and cross-stitching, always keeping her hands busy and her creativity flowing.

She loved watching sports and proudly claimed the title of “sports nut.” From the ever-infuriating Dallas Cowboys to the Dallas Mavericks, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Texas Rangers, she rarely missed a game and never held back her opinions.

She also had a lifelong struggle with punctuality—you had to tell her to be somewhere an hour early just to get her there ten minutes late. But above all else, she loved being around family and never wanted to miss a good time. She was truly a firecracker.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Miguel and Rosa Morales; her brother, Mike Morales; and her eldest child, Melinda Bajula.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, in birth order: Melinda Bajula (who preceded her in death), Norma Salas (Ken), Bono Salas (Christie), Imelda Salas-Roberts (Jeff), Ricky Salas (Lisa), Elizabeth “Lizzie” Salas-Moss (Justin), and Joseph Salas (Nicky).

She is also survived by her sister, Juanita Valderas; grandchildren Sean and Chad Riley; Michael Salas (Blanca), with soon-to-arrive great-grandchildren Alessandra and Sebastian Salas; Seth, Eli, and Katelyn Roberts- great grandson Remington; Nehemiah Salas-Conner and Bryson Moss; Kayla, Bailye, Allison, and Tristan Salas; Nicole Salas (Adolfo), with great-grandson Luis Garza; Mia Salas; Jackson, Trey, and Ryder Salas; and the children of Melinda, grandchildren Stephen A. Salas (Meg), Melissa Marquez (Luis), and Austin Mitchell. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.