CATARINO R. BANDA

Catarino R. Banda lived to become a centenarian and recently celebrated his 105th birthday on earth.
Having been healthy and robust for most of his older adulthood, a recent illness caused his first
hospitalization. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 17, 2024 in Laredo, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years of marriage, Petra Banda; his parents, Jose
Banda and Eufrosina Rodriguez Banda; his daughter, Eufrosina Banda; and his sons and great-grandsons
lost as babies, Hector and Jose, Julian and Joshua, respectively.
Born in Villa de Arriaga, San Luis Potosi, Mexico on November 25, 1918, Catarino made his way to the
U.S. as a bracero. He worked various jobs as a young adult and started a career in the railroad industry in
1954. He eventually retired after many decades of work, having helped build and maintain what is now
the South Shore Line, the regional railway connecting Chicago to South Bend.
The railroad work led him to become a longtime resident of Hammond, Indiana. He brought his family
from Mexico to Northwest Indiana in January of 1967, however they hadn't prepared to be greeted by
the record-breaking Great Blizzard of Chicago. They moved to a lovely 2-story house just blocks from the
Hammond South Shore train station by 1969. Catarino even outlived that residence, as the home was
tragically lost to a fire in 2021.
"Don Cata" would travel often to Mexico and kept a summer home in Nuevo Laredo. When his wife
began having health complications, they left the Chicagoland winters for the heat and proximity to his
homeland. Catarino moved to Laredo in the late 1990s and lived his last decades of life as a Tejano. At
his 100th birthday, he agreed to a DNA test, and the family legend that he descended from Aztec royalty
was only semi-confirmed. His almost 100% indigenous bloodline traces to two areas: Mexico and Peru.
He is survived by his children Maria R. Banda, Jose Arturo Banda, and Zita Nora (Ricardo) Santoyo;
grandchildren Isaura Banda, Zaydee (Juan Campos) Santoyo, Sergio Banda, Soraya Santoyo (Jesús) Galán,
Daniela (Anthony) Wilson, and Elida Banda; and great-grandchildren Cristian, Laura, Nicodemus, Elaina,
Lestat, Setheren, Nora, Ignatius, Marcos, Anthony, Allie and Vivien.
Also surviving him are many nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends, though due to his long
lifespan, many are now welcoming him into his next life.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 departing from the Hernandez, Lopez and Sons, Northside Chapels, 800 Boston St. on San Bernardo Ave. Holy Mass was celebrated at Santo Nino Catholic Church. Committal services and interment followed at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

PALLBEARERS WERE: Jose Arturo Banda, John, Sergio Banda, Soraya Santoyo Galan, Zaydee Santoyo and Elaina Weems.