Refugio "Cuca" De Leon Pena

"Cuca" De Leon Pena was the eldest daughter of Pedro De Leon and Petra Rivera. She was so much older, she served as a second mother the the younger kids, and Cousin Mary Margaret Garcia says she learned a lot about life from tia Cuca.

She was born 23 Oct 1901 in Webb County, TX (which is where Laredo is, and where most of the other kids say they were from, Mirando City). There is one record of a Refugia Pena crossing the border from Mexico in 1913, at age 12, but it is unclear if this is she, because this person she was alone at the time and Cuca was born in the US, so why would she be crossing the border from Mexico into the US alone?

There is a 1910 census which shows a Refugio Pena, age 9, living in Guadalupe, TX with her mother listed as Anna Pena, and little brother Pedro, 4. Cuca has a brother Pedro, but her mother was Petra Rivera, so that may not be the right person.

In 1930 census, however, there is an entry in Harris County, TX for Refugio, age 26, Pedro Pena (spouse age 25), son Juan age 5, Gonzalo age 2, and Maria age 4 mos.

I cannot so far find records of her marriage to Pedro Pena.

Cuca had 5 children, her son Juan "Johnny" Pena was born in 1925, Gonzalo "Chango" b. 1927, Mary Pena b. 1929, and Jose "Joe" Pena year of birth unknown. Pedro "Pete" Pena, birth date unknown.

Cuca passed away in Harris County, in 1982 at age 81.