Our beloved Emilia B. Garcia of Los Fresnos, Texas passed away on the evening of Wednesday, October 26, 2022, due to complications from a stroke. She was 88 years old.
Emilia was born on December 29, 1933, to Manuela Villarreal and Francisco Burnias in Olmito, Texas. She was the 2nd sibling among a family of 9 brothers and sisters. She graduated from San Benito High School in 1953.
Throughout her school years, she enjoyed spending time with her siblings and cousins. One of their favorite pastimes was attending local dances in Olmito and Los Fresnos, Texas. Emilia enjoyed sharing her beautiful memories with family and friends about the times they danced the nights away at El Mesquiton. Her favorite memory, and the most told, entailed one evening when a young man had asked her to dance. Little did Emilia know that this wonderful man would soon become her loving husband, Guadalupe (Lupe) R. Garcia. Lupe and Emilia became sweethearts in 1951. Shortly after, the Korean War put miles and miles between them, but the distance was filled with more than 200 beautiful love letters. As their love continued to grow, they were wed in December 1956. They were so fortunate to celebrate 63 beautiful years of marriage.
Emilia started her career with Valley Transit Company as a bookkeeper, in which she worked for four years prior to having their first child, Anna Sylvia. At that point, they decided that she would stay home to raise her, while Lupe continued his education and worked. Two years after Lupe completed his Bachelor’s degree, their second daughter, Celina Iris, was born. Lupe and Emilia made Los Fresnos their home and it is there that they raised their family. Both Lupe and Emilia are remembered for their strong faith, morals, values, and love of family.
Education was of highest importance to Emilia, as she dedicated more than 25 years of her career to the Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District in various roles and she was the Burnias family “cheerleader†as she encouraged her daughters, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren to pursue the highest level of education possible. She knew the importance of a college degree and how it could create many opportunities that would lead to a more successful and happier life. She and Lupe could always be seen at every family member’s high school and college graduations.
Anyone who was fortunate to have known Emilia would agree that her compassionate, encouraging, generous and social personality was one like no other. Emilia was always surrounded by numerous family and friends who absolutely adored her. She had an immeasurable heart, which radiated so much love for all. Emilia enjoyed hosting get-togethers, sharing some of her favorite dishes including fried fish, cast iron cornbread, spanish rice, fidello, banana tea bread, and apple pear pie. Emilia was also a woman of faith and praised God for all of her blessings. She attended mass on a regular basis with family and friends and enjoyed praying the Holy Rosary daily and reading the Bible as part of her nightly routine.
Emilia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brothers Baldo Esquivel, Henry Esquivel, Tanis Esquivel, Francisco Burnias, Jr. and Merced Burnias, Sr.; her brothers-in-law Noley Rumble, Francisco R. Garcia, Celso Garcia, Juan R. Garcia, Jr and Encarnacion Perez, Sr.; her sisters-in-law Trinidad G. Pena, Luisa C. Garcia and Eduarda Garcia. Emilia is survived by her two daughters, Anna Sylvia Burton (Glenn) from Dallas and Celina Iris Garza (John) from Austin, her four grandchildren, Jeremy Burton (Maggie), Lauren Melton (Eddie), Emily Garza, and Alex Garza, and her great grandson, Giuliano Melton; her siblings Alicia Burnias, Lala Rumble, Celina B. Perez, Reynaldo Burnias (Gracie), Ramiro Burnias (Amparo), and Oscar Burnias (Ana) and her sisters-in-law Rosie Burnias, Minda Burnias and Nena G. Olvera.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 4, 2022, at 5pm at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home in Brownsville, TX with the recitation of the Holy Rosary to take place at 6pm that evening. On Saturday, November 5 at 10:30am, the funeral mass will be held at Our Heavenly Father Catholic Church in Olmito, TX followed by the interment at 12pm at Buena Vista Burial Park in Brownsville, TX. Services are under the guidance of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory & Flower Shop. 657 Springmart Blvd in Brownsville, TX. (956) 350-8485
To send flowers or a plant to the family in the memory of Mrs. Emilia B. Garcia, please visit https://didisflowershop.com/shop or call (956) 455-3718.