On April 10, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce named Velma Sue De Leon a “Legendary McAllen Woman” during its “Celebration of Women in Business” event. According to the chamber of commerce, this event celebrates “trailblazing women who have had a lasting impact on [the] community. The chamber [honors] their accomplishments, providing leadership and mentorship to up-and-coming businesswomen who can learn from the honorees’ professional struggles and successes.”

De Leon, funeral director and co-owner of Memorial Funeral Home (San Juan and Edinburg), has long contributed to the betterment of her community and the profession. In 2011, she became the first Hispanic female president of the Texas Funeral Directors Association. The following year, she and her husband, Leon, were named “Man and Woman of the Year” by the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce for their community volunteerism. Just last year, local news outlet The Monitor announced that Memorial Funeral Home was voted “Favorite Funeral Home” as part of its 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. MemorialFuneral.com