Dodge City – Teresa (Torrez) Mendez, 83, died September 15, 2023 at Phoenix Hospice, Wichita.  She was born on September 27, 1939 at Dodge City, the daughter of Jose V. and Sara (Jasso) Torrez.

Teresa was born and raised in the Mexican Village in Dodge City where she also attended school. On September 23, 1963 she married Jose Francisco Mendez in Liberal. She worked for many years at the Super 8 hotel in Dodge City. Teresa enjoyed spending time working in her flower garden and would spend countless hours making sure it was well taken care of. She was very proud of her green thumb and talked about her plants any chance she could. She also enjoyed spending time with her family at Papa Joe's house and friends who visited regularly. Teresa's home was a safe place for many people where everyone felt welcome.  Teresa was very devout in her faith and enjoyed teaching her grandchildren prayers to help them be closer to God.  Her kids and grandkids meant the world to her and she loved to spend as much time with them as she could.  She was known for being on the phone for hours with her sisters on a daily basis.

She was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dodge City.

Teresa is survived by her children, Ralph Mendez and wife Angie of Surprise, Arizona and Elva Dominguez and husband Jose Luis Dominguez of Dodge City; grandchildren, Terrance and Joshua Mendez of Surprise, Arizona and Anthony and Alondra Dominguez of Dodge City; five sisters, Carol Torrez, Eleanor Lacer, Josephine Moreno, Margaret Torrez and Delores Torrez; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jose Francisco Mendez, five brothers, Frank, Epimenio, Pascual, Paul, and Mike Torrez; and four sisters, Jessie Rodriguez, Isabel Kelly, Nellie Trujillo, and Lupe Torrez.

Funeral Mass will be held at Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Friday, September 22, 2023 at 10:00 AM with the Rosary preceding at 9:30AM.  Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City.  Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel on Thursday, September 21, 2023 from Noon to 8:00 PM with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  Memorials are suggested to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in care of the funeral home.  Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.