The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Carmela Ceja, 50, of Orange, died on May 20, at St. Mary Hospital.

She was born on March 15, 1964 to Maria and Antonio Hernandez in Mexico. She has resided in Orange for the past 16 years. She and her husband, Ricardo opened their first Mexican restaurant, Tequila’s on Gulfway Dr. in Port Arthur over 20 years ago; opened a second restaurant in Bridge City followed by a third in Lake Charles. In 2010, after selling the Gulfway Tequila’s, the Ceja’s opened a new Tequila’s in Port Arthur adjacent to Central Mall on U. S. 69.

She is survived by her husband, Ricardo Ceja of Orange; daughters, Vaneza Ceja, Kimberly Ceja; son, Ricardo Ceja, Jr., all of Orange; parents; sisters, Martha Barragan of Dixon, CA, Maria Cisneros and Monica Maldonado, both of Bridge City; brothers, Antonio Hernandez, Jr. of San Diego, CA, Juan Hernandez of Orange and Victor Hernandez of Bridge City, along with numerous nieces and nephews that called her “Nina”.

She is also survived by her husband, Ricardo’s family; his parents, Francisco and Elena Ceja; sisters, Alicia Lopez, Gela Sandoval, Lupe Ceja, Esperansa Vargas, his brothers, Efrain Ceja, Andres Ceja and Francisco Ceja.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 22, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with a vigil at 6:00 PM at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Friday, May 23, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Port Arthur, with the Rev. T.R. Blanco serving as celebrant. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and their love throughout the years, family is everything and she will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

And special thanks to our customers for their continued support and we hope to continue serving them as she would have.