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Maria Cisneros
HARLINGEN, TX — Maria Elena Cisneros, 28, passed away on Thursday, April 21, 2005 she will be dearly missed by her family friends and all whose lives she touched.
Maria was a graduate of Rio Hondo High School Class of 1995 and was employed with Quest Diagnostic of Weslaco. She also loved spending lots of time with her loving children, family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Libardo Cisneros.
She is survived by her two children, Jonathon Castaneda and Nadia Elena Cardoza both of Harlingen; Father, Manuel "Chito" Cisneros and Mother, Eloisa Cisneros; Three brothers: Joel Sanchez of Houston, Tony (Celia) Quevas of Harlingen, Paul Cisneros of Minnesota. She is also survived by her paternal grandmother, Eloisa Cisneros of Harlingen; maternal grandparents, Juan and Paula Sanchez of Santa Rosa; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held today, Saturday, April 23, 2005, and Sunday, April 24, 2005, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a holy rosary to be recited both evenings at 7:00 p.m. at Rudy Garza Funeral Home chapel of Peace of Harlingen, Texas.
The funeral procession will depart the Rudy Garza Funeral Home on Monday, April 25, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. for a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian burial at St. Helens Catholic Church in Rio Hondo, with Father Mario Castro as the celebrant. Interment will follow at Ashland Memorial Park of Harlingen.
Pallbearers will be Ruben Gonzalez, Chris Cisneros, Carlos Cisneros, Roy Sanchez, Ray Gonzalez and Juan A. Cisneros.
All funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rudy Garza Funeral Home of Harlingen, Texas.
Rebecca S. Garcia
SAN BENITO, TX — A funeral mass will be celebrated for long-time resident, Rebecca S. Garcia, 86, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 28, at St. Benedict Church in San Benito. Interment of her ashes will follow at Mount Meta Cemetery in San Benito.
Born June 20, 1918, to Helena (Cortez) and Ricardo de los Santos, she was raised and educated in Brownsville, Texas. After her mother died and her father remarried, she and her siblings moved to San Benito, where she met and married Samuel T. Garcia on June 3, 1937.
She assisted her husband in his auto mechanic shop for 30 years, until her husband died. When her children were grown, she went to work a s a store manager for Mary‘s Dress Shop, until she retired in 1983.
She was known for her devotion to her children and extended family. She was always a source for family history, never failing to remember special occasions with greeting cards and loving gifts. Her beautiful handwriting was well-recognized by family and friends, until Alzheimers debilitated her health. Her children had to move her to Casper, Wyoming, where she lived with her oldest daughter .
The last year of her life, she was assigned to Shepherd of the Valley Care Center, where she died April 19, 2005 of natural causes.
Survivors include her daughter Alberta (Luciano) Giraldo of Casper WY; son, Ricardo (Sylvia) Garcia of Grand Prairie, TX; and daughter, Alma Gloria (Carl Joseph) Wlazlinski of Lacy Lakeview, TX; eight grandchildren: Daniel, Ricky, Andrew (Melissa), Marco, Leah, Sarah (Jake) Nicholas (Nicole), and Cristina; four great-grand children: Megan, Gage, Joseph, and Aidan; brother, Raul (Leona) de los Santos; sister, Raquel Cantu; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Ricardo and Roberto; sister, Rosalia; her husband; several sisters, and brothers-in-law; and an infant daughter.
Memorials may be made to St. Benedict Church.
Juan Manuel Pequeno
LA FERIA — Juan Manuel Pequeno, 69, Juan died peacefully Thursday, April 21, 2005 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Wualahuises, N.L., Mexico, on June 22, 1935 to Hermerejildo and Maria Trevino Pequeno.
He was raised in Wualahuises, N.L., Mexico and attended schools in Donna, TX. On August 24, 1958, he married Catarina Exinia in La Feria, TX. Juan was a loving husband, father, son, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
Survivors include his wife Catarina Exinia Pequeno of La Feria, sister Agripina Pequeno of McAllen, TX, brother Jose Angel Pequeno of San Juan, TX, three sons and two daughters Juan (Linda) Pequeno, Jr., of Brownsville, TX, Guadalupe (Patricia) Pequeno of Austin, TX, David (Raquel) Pequeno of San Benito, TX, Alicia (Luis) Rodriguez of College Station, TX, Leticia (Erasmo) Villarreal of La Feria, TX. ten grandchildren Luis, Jr. and Jessica LaLa Rodriguez of College Station, TX. Johnathan and Selina Pequeno of San Antonio, TX, Marrisa and Clarrisa Pequeno of San Benito, TX, Michelle Lee, Cynthia M. and Erasmo III, Villarreal of La Feria, TX and Genesis Pequeno of Brownsville, TX.
Visitation will be held today, April 24, 2005 from 10 AM until 9 P.M. at the Rudy Garza Palms Chapel with the Holy Rosary to be prayed at 7 P.M. The funeral procession will depart the Rudy Garza Palms Chapel on Monday, April 25, 2005 at 2 P.M. for a 2 :30 P.M. Mass of Christian burial at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with Fr. Andre Kazadi as the celebrant.
Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria, TX. Pallbearers will be Mr. Pequeno’s family and friends.
Joe Gavito, Jr.
LA FERIA — Joe Gavito, Jr. born in Brownsville, TX, on November 26, 1913, was a man whose honesty, integrity, and spirituality couldn’t be touched by many. He was a member of the early pioneer family of Lozano and Sons that opened one of the first businesses in Harlingen, TX, in the Pioneer building owned by S. Lozano and Sons. Five Lozano and Sons General Merchandise Stores were eventually opened in Harlingen, La Feria, Weslaco, Donna, and Raymondville. In fact, Joe got his business training early helping out at the various stores at the very young age of eleven. He attended schools in Harlingen and Brownsville graduating from Harlingen High School in 1931. Because of the Depression, he had to post-pone attending college until he managed getting a janitorial job at Valley Business College in Harlingen, TX and worked his way through until he graduated with a business degree in 1934. In 1926 Joe married Bertha Renaud who survives him from Harlingen, Texas and the enjoyed 68 beautiful years together. Theirs was a romance that started when Bertha was 14 and Joe was 18. They met at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Harlingen, TX, while performing in a church play together. From the time they met, they knew that spending their lives together was what they wanted. They raised a daughter Bonnie Rigelsky who lives with her husband Jim in La Feria, TX. Joe enjoyed watching and was thankful that he was able to see his grandchildren grow and become successful, caring adults: James Joseph Rigelsky who lives with his wife Sheila in Dallas, TX, Brandon Wade Rigelsky also of Dallas, and Jon Anthony Rigelsky and Brittany Jo Rigelsky of College Station, TX. Joe is also survived by his sister Fidela (Lala) Trevino of La Feria, TX, a brother Val Gavito of Houston, TX, very special nieces Elsie Ireland of La Feria, Sylvia Schroeder of Harlingen, Rose Marie De Leon of San Benito, Rose Lee (George) Dorsey of Alamo, and various other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who always knew they had a friend and confidant in Joe Gavito, Jr. He was preceded in death by so many because he lived such a long, rich life, but he would have wanted to mention the passing of his parents Jose and Fidela Gavito, his sisters Marie Gavito Sloss and Eva Gavito Cabra as well as a nephew Jesse Sloss Jr. Joe’s spirituality and love for our Lord and the church was profound. He served on so many committees and was involved with so many church decisions that he became special friends with Bishops Lediva and Garriga while serving as President of the Diocesan Committee that directed the activities of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and very active in the ACJM Organization for Boys in the diocese. Later when Joe and Bertha moved to La Feria, they became very active in their church, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Later he and Bishops Medieros and Fitzpatrick worked together to form the Bishop’s Diocesan Pastoral Council that held guide the churches in the valley to follow guideline’s set forth by Vatican II. Joe serves as the first President of the St. Francis Xavier Parish Council, President of the St. Vincent De Paul that he also helped form, and was an Eucharistic Minister, and Lector. His pride however was the work he did in helping build and plan the beautiful new St. Francis that proudly serves the Catholic faithful of La Feria today. Joe’s career was spent in the canning business. In 1934 when jobs were very scarce, he was offered the opportunity to wok with a company that entered into contracts with tomato canners and his career was launched. Joe moved from being a clerk that handled sales, and answering letters to working with Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Dunn in 1935. He learned the canning business from top to bottom up and always felt grateful to the Dunns for the opportunity they gave him to work for Quality Products of La Feria, TX. He became General Manager and President and helped to make this canning company one of the most successful, productive canning companies in the Valley. In 1962 Carl and Rosemary Rotelle offered him a chance to join Elsa Canning Company, and he operated a total of four plants expanding the company’s famous Tomatoes and Green Chiles that would later become Rotel’s "Hot Tomato". In 1967 Joe bought 51% of the Rotel Canning Company and expanded the business into a very successful canning company and made Rotel label a "household" name. The success of the label allowed him to sell his business to the
Knapp Sherrill Canning Company of Donna, and he and retired in 1965.
Joe’s contributions didn’t stop with his career and his love for the Catholic Church.
He was instrumental in shaping the small community of La Feria back when Main St. was practically all that was there. He was elected as city commissioner in 1945 and served two terms. From 1949 to 1951 he served as mayor of the city that also came with the duties of city manager and city judge. He served on the La Feria Utility Board for 22 years for a total of 28 years service for the City of La Feria. Joe also served on the Board of Directors of The First National Bank of La Feria for 37 years, President of the La Feria Rotary Club and was a charter member and president of the Edcouch-Elsa Rotary Club. He had a perfect attendance for Rotary for the full 28 years he belonged. Joe also served as a member of the Cameron County School Board, the Cameron County Housing Authority, President of the Texas Canners Association, Director of the Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Rio Grande Boy Scouts Council, a member of the Texas Citrus Advisory Council, Vice-President of The Good Government League, and served as chairman of financial drives for organizations such as the Red Cross, The Boy Scouts and The American Cancer Society.
Because of the exemplary life Joe Gavito lived he was awarded The Community Builder Award by The La Feria Masonic Lodge in 1996, and in the same year, the City Commissioners of La Feria honored Joe by issuing the Proclamation naming Joe Gavito Jr. The 1996 Person of the Year and declaring June 27, 1996 Joe Gavito Jr. Day. Joe Gavito passed away at Harlingen Medical Center on April 22, 2005. Visitation will be held at the Rudy Garza Funeral Home of Mercedes, TX, today, Sunday, April 24, 2005 from 10:00 AM until 9:00 PM with the family present from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM.
Visitation will be held on Monday, April 25, 2005 from 10:00 Am until 5:00 PM at the Rudy Garza Funeral Home of Mercedes, TX. Visitation will the be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM with the Holy Rosary to be prayed at 7:00 PM. The funeral procession will depart the Rudy Garza Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 26, 2005, at 9:30 AM for a 10:00 Mass of the Rite of Christian burial at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on South Canal, La Feria, TX, with Fr. Plutarco Belanggou as the celebrant. Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria, TX.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Jay, Brandon, and Jon Rigelsky, and nephews, Val ans Dan Gavio, and Rick Agado. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the St. Francis Xavier Building Fund, P.O. Box 116, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, La Feria, TX. 78559.
Rosa Maria Gonzalez
SAN BENITO/PRIMERA — Rosa Maria Gonzalez, 51, entered into rest on Friday, April 22, 2005 at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, TX. Rosa was a lifelong resident of Primera and was preceded in death by her parents Dionicio and Carlota Gonzalez and her brother Paul D. Gonzalez.
She is survived by her daughter Bianca Veronica Gonzalez, four grandchildren Bryanna, Jesus, Damian and Deandra all of San Benito, TX, three sisters Chita (Jose) Cavazos and Aida (Alfredo) Garza both of San Benito, TX, Anita (Greg) Galvan, J rod La Tina, TX and one sister-in-law Lupita Gonzalez of Primera, TX. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
Visitation will be held today, Monday, April 25, 2005 from 10 A.M. until 9 P.M. at the Rudy Garza Chapel of Peace with the Holy Rosary to be prayed at 7 P.M. The funeral procession will depart the Rudy Garza Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at 1:30 PM for a 2 P.M. Catholic funeral service at Queen of Peace Catholic Church with Deacon Genaro Ibarra as the celebrant. Interment will follow at Heavenly Grace Cemetery in La Feria, TX.
Pallbearers will be her nephews Alfredo Garza, Jr., Richard Garza, Jose Cavazos, Jr., David Solis, Oscar Landeros and Luis Armadillo. Honorary pallbearers will be Jesus Hernandez and Damian Ybarra.
Joe Gavito, Jr.
LA FERIA — Joe Gavito, Jr. born in Brownsville, TX, on November 26, 1913, was a man whose honesty, integrity, and spirituality couldn’t be touched by many.
He was a member of the early pioneer family of Lozano and Sons that opened one of the first businesses in Harlingen, TX, in the Pioneer building owned by S. Lozano and Sons. Five Lozano and Sons General Merchandise Stores were eventually opened in Harlingen, La Feria, Weslaco, Donna, and Raymondville. In fact, Joe got his business training early helping out at the various stores at the very young age of eleven.
He attended schools in Harlingen and Brownsville graduating from Harlingen High School in 1931. Because of the Depression, he had to post-pone attending college until he managed getting a janitorial job at Valley Business College in Harlingen, TX and worked his way through until he graduated with a business degree in 1934.
In 1926 Joe married Bertha Renaud who survives him from Harlingen, Texas and the enjoyed 68 beautiful years together. Theirs was a romance that started when Bertha was 14 and Joe was 18. They met at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Harlingen, TX, while performing in a church play together.
From the time they met, they knew that spending their lives together was what they wanted.
They raised a daughter Bonnie Rigelsky who lives with her husband Jim in La Feria, TX. Joe enjoyed watching and was thankful that he was able to see his grandchildren grow and become successful, caring adults: James Joseph Rigelsky who lives with his wife Sheila in Dallas, TX, Brandon Wade Rigelsky also of Dallas, and Jon Anthony Rigelsky and Brittany Jo Rigelsky of College Station, TX.
Joe is also survived by his sister Fidela (Lala) Trevino of La Feria, TX, a brother Val Gavito of Houston, TX, very special nieces Elsie Ireland of La Feria, Sylvia Schroeder of Harlingen, Rose Marie De Leon of San Benito, Rose Lee (George) Dorsey of Alamo, and various other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who always knew they had a friend and confidant in Joe Gavito, Jr.
He was preceded in death by so many because he lived such a long, rich life, but he would have wanted to mention the passing of his parents Jose and Fidela Gavito, his sisters Marie Gavito Sloss and Eva Gavito Cabra as well as a nephew Jesse Sloss Jr.
Joe’s spirituality and love for our Lord and the church was profound. He served on so many committees and was involved with so many church decisions that he became special friends with Bishops Lediva and Garriga while serving as President of the Diocesan Committee that directed the activities of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and very active in the ACJM Organization for Boys in the diocese.
Later when Joe and Bertha moved to La Feria, they became very active in their church, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Later he and Bishops Medieros and Fitzpatrick worked together to form the Bishop’s Diocesan Pastoral Council that held guide the churches in the Valley to follow guideline’s set forth by Vatican II.
Joe served as the first President of the St. Francis Xavier Parish Council, President of the St. Vincent De Paul that he also helped form, and was an Eucharistic Minister, and Lector.
His pride however was the work he did in helping build and plan the beautiful new St. Francis that proudly serves the Catholic faithful of La Feria today.
Joe’s career was spent in the canning business. In 1934 when jobs were very scarce, he was offered the opportunity to wok with a company that entered into contracts with tomato canners and his career was launched. Joe moved from being a clerk that handled sales, and answering letters to working with Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Dunn in 1935. He learned the canning business from top to bottom up and always felt grateful to the Dunns for the opportunity they gave him to work for Quality Products of La Feria, TX. He became General Manager and President and helped to make this canning company one of the most successful, productive canning companies in the Valley.
In 1962 Carl and Rosemary Rotelle offered him a chance to join Elsa Canning Company, and he operated a total of four plants expanding the company’s famous Tomatoes and Green Chiles that would later become Rotel’s "Hot Tomato". In 1967 Joe bought 51% of the Rotel Canning Company and expanded the business into a very successful canning company and made Rotel label a "household" name.
The success of the label allowed him to sell his business to the Knapp Sherrill Canning Company of Donna, and he and retired in 1965.
Joe’s contributions didn’t stop with his career and his love for the Catholic Church. He was instrumental in shaping the small community of La Feria back when Main St. was practically all that was there. He was elected as city commissioner in 1945 and served two terms. From 1949 to 1951 he served as mayor of the city that also came with the duties of city manager and city judge.
He served on the La Feria Utility Board for 22 years for a total of 28 years service for the City of La Feria. Joe also served on the Board of Directors of The First National Bank of La Feria for 37 years, President of the La Feria Rotary Club and was a charter member and president of the Edcouch-Elsa Rotary Club.
He had a perfect attendance for Rotary for the full 28 years he belonged. Joe also served as a member of the Cameron County School Board, the Cameron County Housing Authority, President of the Texas Canners Association, Director of the Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Rio Grande Boy Scouts Council, a member of the Texas Citrus Advisory Council, Vice-President of The Good Government League, and served as chairman of financial drives for organizations such as the Red Cross, The Boy Scouts and The American Cancer Society.
Because of the exemplary life Joe Gavito lived he was awarded The Community Builder Award by the La Feria Mosonic Lodge in 1996, and in the same year, the City Commissioners of La Feria honored Joe by issuing the Proclamation naming Joe Gavito Jr. The 1996 Person of the Year and declaring June 27, 1996 Joe Gavito Jr. Day.
Joe Gavito passed away at Harlingen Medical Center on April 22, 2005.
Visitation will be held at the Rudy Garza Funeral Home of Mercedes, TX., today, Monday, April 25, 2005 from 10 A.M. until 5 P.M. Visitation will then be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church from 6 P.M until 9 P.M. with the Holy Rosary to be prayed at 7:00 PM.
The funeral procession will depart the Rudy Garza Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 26, 2005, at 9:30 A.M. for a 10 a.m. Mass of the Rite of Christian burial at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on South Canal, La Feria, TX, with Fr. Plutarco Belanggou as the celebrant.
Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria, TX. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Jay, Brandon, and Jon Rigelsky, and nephews, Val and Dan Gavito, and Rick Agado. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the St. Francis Xavier Building Fund, P.O. Box 116, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, La Feria, TX. 78559.
Maria C. Aguilar
SANTA MARIA — Maria C. Aguilar, 93, entered into rest on Friday at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, TC.
Visitation will be held today, Monday, April 25, 2005 from 10 A.M. until 9 P.M. at the Rudy Garza Funeral Home Chapel of Angels. Other funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced tomorrow.
Edna Mae Purdy
Harlingen, TX — Edna Mae Purdy, 94, went to be with the Lord at her home in Harlingen, Texas on April 23, 2005.
She was born August 10, 1910, in Fort Worth, Texas to Frank and Alice Lightfoot.
Her family moved to Harlingen when she was a teenager and she graduated from Harlingen High School.
She married Arthur Daniel Purdy in 1933 and they celebrated 62 years of marriage before his death in 1995.
During World War II Edna worked at the Harlingen Air Force Base. Later she worked at Rainbow Bakery and Flynn Insurance Company.
After retiring she enjoyed Bible Study Fellowship, working with children at Hosts and volunteering for Family Crisis.
She and Arthur enjoyed a variety of community activities and many wonderful years traveling both in Europe and the United States.
Edna loved her home and was an excellent homemaker. The most important things in her life were family, friends, and church.
She was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and the Contemporary Study Club.
She is survived by two daughters, Carol Jean Flynn (husband, Alton) of Cleburne and Barbara Ann Purdy of Harlingen. She has two grandchildren, Katherine Ann Flynn Hartmann (husband, Karl), and their daughter, Rebecca Ann Hartmann of Buhlertal, Germany; Christopher Daniel Flynn (wife, Erica) and their daughter, Natalie Faith Flynn of Fort Worth, Texas; a brother, Curtis Lightfoot of San Antonio; two sisters, Marguerite Drury of San Antonio, and Norma McDaniels of Palestine, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Purdy; her mother and father, Frank and Alice Lightfoot; and a sister, Shirley Bedinghaus.
Edna was a dear person who will always be remembered for her sweet smile, and the love and devotion she had for her husband, Arthur Purdy.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her and her memory will live on in our hearts.
Visitation will be at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the family being present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A celebration of her life will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at 2 p.m. with Reverend Jerry McGuire.
Burial will follow at Mont Meta Memorial Park.
Pallbearers are Arthur Pereda, James Hunt, Jay Francis, Christopher Daniel Flynn, Joshua Fields and Jim Barbee.
Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Adams, Michael Young, Timothy Young and T.J. O’Rourke.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
