Graciana de Peña

          Graciana de Peña, 77, a Brownsville native and member of valley pioneer families, entered into eternal rest on November 15^th, 2018. Beginning at an early age, she realized the importance of education and the importance of being involved.  During that time, she would read correspondence for neighbors and would also tutor small children.  She also witnessed first-hand her mother’s involvement in demanding that children in the area where they lived were provided qualified teachers, sooner than later.  As a sixth grader, Graciana was introduced to the Brownsville Public Library which was adjacent to the fire station downtown.  At Cummings Junior High she was a student assistant in the library.  During her senior year at BHS and freshman year at TSC, she was employed part time at the Zachary Taylor City/College Library

          During her high school years, she was actively involved in many activities including class officer, newspaper staff, and the National Honor Society.  She graduated as salutatorian of the BHS Class of 1958.  She attended Texas Southmost College where she served as co-editor of The Collegian, president of the freshman class, vice-president of the sophomore class and also participated in numerous activities.  She earned an Associate in Arts degree.  She transferred to Texas Woman’s University in Denton.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish.  She later earned a master’s degree in Educational Supervision at Pan American University in Edinburg.

          Graciana started her career in education in 1962.  During her tenure at BISD, she was a teacher, program evaluator, grant writer, program director and wrote a monthly newsletter for the school employees for several years.  Among her positions at Texas Southmost College were Administrative Assistant to the President and Dean of Administrative Services.  She also served as Assistant to the County Judge and Chief Planner for the County for three years.

          Special conditions during the 1965-1966 school year where she was assigned to teach modern math at Central Junior High, evolved into a very memorable year which led her to seek ways to improve the deplorable conditions of Brownsville ISD facilities.  That year, she was out on leave until the 10^th day of classes.  For the first nine days, there were nine substitutes.  No one would accept a second day.  The students in that class came directly from P.E.  Four of the classes had 43-44 students.  The last class only had 37.  There were two small windows at one end of the classroom and no fans or air conditioning.  That year she vowed that she would not quit and that when she “grew up†she would do something to remedy that situation.

          In 1976 she was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the BISD Board of Trustees.  She served until 1986 when she decided she would not seek another term.  She later served from 1991-1994.  She always credited all the board members for the improvements that were achieved during her tenure on the board, including the issuance of bonds for the tremendous expansion of the facilities program to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio and to air-condition the school buildings.

          For many years she participated in numerous school and community activities which included service on the Brownsville Public Library Advisory Board.  During the time she was president, the BPL Advisory Board and the City of Brownsville constructed the Southmost Branch of the Public Library System.  

          Graciana was preceded in death by her parents whom she credited for being her first teachers, Manuela (Memita) and Samuel Saenz, and her husband, Fernando de Pena Jr.  She is survived by her husband, Rafael de la Rosa, three daughters Laura (Eusebio) Salinas, Leticia (Alfred) Ortiz, and Lizeth Cantu.  Nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren survive her:  Laurita, Karla, Aminta, Eusebio, Sarah, Oscar, Sofia, Samuel and Nicolas; Alina and Luis Fernando.  She is survived by her siblings who have always enjoyed a special bond:  Socorro Martin, Evangelina Vera, Samuel Saenz, Beatriz Marlow, and Juanita Long.  Also surviving her is her sister-in-law Maria Antonia and her husband Adolfo Montemayor of Alice and their children and grandchildren.

          A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 19, 2018 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. with the recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory. A memorial funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  Private burial services will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Sunshine Haven Special Care Facility in Olmito, TX, or the Brownsville Public Library Foundation.