Sylvia Hernandez (Gonzalez) 52, of Brownsville, TX, devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Friend, and Educator, entered into eternal rest on Monday, September 13, 2021, surrounded by loving family. She was born in Brownsville, TX on October 26, 1968. She is preceded in death by her parents, Alfredo Gonzalez Sr. and Herlinda C. Gonzalez, her sister Rosa Linda Silva, and her daughter, Maggie Angelyn. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Jasmin (Felix) Blanco and Johnny; grandchildren, Felix Alex and Liam and her husband Juan Jose Hernandez Sr.; siblings, Diana Alicia Santana (+Jesus), Norma Celia Gonzalez, Graciela G. Cantu (Ramon), Alfredo Gonzalez Jr. (Joann) and Maria Elvia Perez (Eleazar), along with numerous nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed.
Sylvia had a joyous attitude that would brighten everyone’s day, and she had an ability to speak with others and help them heal. When it came to Sylvia, there were no strangers, just people that she hadn’t spoken with. Sylvia was the kind of friend that would not hesitate to lend a helping hand and had a zest for life that was very apparent to everyone around her. Everyone wanted to be where Sylvia was, for her positivity radiated and her joy was contagious. She loved life and everyone loved her. Sylvia had the ability to see the beauty in everything around her life, would focus on the blessings and positives, and anybody who spoke with her came out with a halo of positivity. It didn’t matter what was happening in her life; her strong convictions and her faith in God helped guide her through any obstacles.
Sylvia was very family oriented. She loved spending time with her family, and her pride and joy were her children and grandchildren. All her family members knew that Sylvia was a beacon of stability and positivity, and that if they ever needed someone, Aunt Sylvia would be there for them. She cared for her nieces and nephews just as if they were her own children, and this is apparent in how much love and appreciation they have for her. Sylvia was an amazing caregiver; evidenced by her tender care and love she gave to her beautiful daughter Maggie. Her brother and sisters meant the world to her, and Sylvia knew that their bond was everlasting.
During her 28 years of teaching at Homer Hanna High School, Sylvia provided students not only with an exceptional education, but with her impressive ability to connect students’ learning with their lives. She was able to empower students and showed them how education was going to help them succeed. Many students would come back just to see Sylvia and tell her how she shaped their lives and helped guide them. She was not just an amazing teacher, but an incredible mentor as well. During her tenure, she had numerous student teachers that she helped guide and capacitate. She would show them how to conduct lessons and help maintain order in the classroom, how to help students, and above all, how to have grace. These student teachers went on to become teachers themselves, and after seeing Sylvia, knew they had made the right choice in being educators.
Sylvia will live in our hearts and our memories and will never be forgotten.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 23 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Family visitation will be from 12 – 1:00 pm. Public visitation will be from 1-8 pm with a recitation of the Holy Rosary to be held at 7 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, September 24 at 10 am at The Lord of Divine Mercy Parish, 650 E. Alton Gloor. Burial will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park at 11am. Funeral services are under the direction of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory, 657 Springmart Blvd. 956-350-8485