A recitation of the Rosary for Maria Esperanza Hernandez, age 63, of Ames, will be at 8:00 p.m. Friday August 24, 2007 at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home Chapel. A graveside service will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 25, 2007, at the Ames Cemetery, with Rev. Kevin Ratterman officiating.  Arrangements are by Anderson-Burris Funeral Home.

            She was born to Bernandino and Ana Cleta (Castillo) Escalante on April 15, 1944 in Mexico, and died Wednesday, August 22, 2007, at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Enid.

            She grew up in Mexico and married Ricardo Hernandez in August 1972.  They made their home in Mexico, moving to the Ames area in 1979.   She was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening and spending time with her grandkids.  She attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

            She is survived by her husband Ricardo of the home; twelve children, Miguel Hernandez, Francisco Hernandez, Carolina Hernandez, Ricardo Hernandez Jr., all of Enid, Lorena Hernandez and Jose Aguilar of Ames, Blanca Solis of Waukomis, Lourdes Fernandez, Guadalupe Gonzalez, Gloria Alejandrez, and Luis Aguilar, all of San Antonio, TX, and Guillermo Aguilar, who is currently serving in Iraq; twenty-eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother Felix Lara of Hennessey; and two sisters Francisca Mendoza of Enid, and Paula Gutierrez of Sonora, TX.

            She was preceded in death by her father, mother, stepfather, two sisters, one brother, and one grandchild.