Maria Teresa Esparza

Maria Teresa Esparza, 85, of Scottsburg, Indiana passed away on August 8, 2026, at her home with her family by her side. Beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, Maria spent her life surrounded by the love of her family and the warmth of her community. She was born on November 19, 1940 in Mexico City, Mexico, to the late David Rivera and Adela (Ochoa) Rivera. Maria was the cherished wife of the late Gonzalo Benjamin Esparza, with whom she enjoyed a beautiful 60-year marriage until his passing on March 25, 2026. Together, they embodied the spirit of hard work and dedication, sharing a life filled with love, laughter, and unwavering support for one another. Throughout her career, Maria worked with World Vision in Honduras, where she founded and led the organization’s Religious and Children’s Ministry Department. In that role, she worked alongside Honduras’s first lady, the wife of the country’s secretary of defense, and her sister-in-law, Graciela Esparza, a co-founder of Christ Gospel International Churches.  In addition to her parents and late husband, Gonzalo, Maria is preceded in death by her two children, Juan Carlos Maya and Claudia Maya. Maria is survived by one son, Benjamin Esparza; one daughter, Diana Esparza; fourteen grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Memorial Service for Maria is Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 10:00 am at Christ Gospel Church in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Cremation services entrusted to Collins Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at www.collinsfuneralhome.net.