Mireille Knösel de Varela

Mireille Knösel de Varela, 87, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, entered eternal rest on April 5, 2023, at her residence surrounded by her loving family. She was born on January 17, 1936, in Matamoros and was a lifetime resident of the Matamoros-Brownsville community. She graduated salutatorian from Villa Maria in 1953 and attended the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

Family and faith always came first to Abuelita (Aiti). She loved spending time with her children and her grandchildren, especially on Sundays at the beach. She was a devout catholic and dedicated her mornings to her faith by attending daily mass. She was a strong and selfless woman who always cooked our Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. Her meals were delicious, and her pies were always family favorites. She was a caring and loving woman who always made every one of us feel special. On birthdays we always counted on her chocolate cake with rainbow sprinkles and looked forward to it. Her chocolate chip cookies and strawberry shortcake were also beloved by everyone, especially her grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband Rafael Varela Morales, her mother Juana Darrouzett, her father Ernesto Knösel Bostel, and her brother Ernesto Knösel Darrouzett.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: David Varela (Mali Varela), Karen Rendon de Varela (Clemente Rendon), Esteban Varela (Magda Varela), Juan Varela (Lorna Varela), Jose Varela (Lourdes Varela), Rafael Varela (Eulalia Varela), Carlos Varela (Raquel Varela); her 21 grandchildren: Patricia, Krissel, Karen, Clemente, Magda, Ana Karen, Esteban, Lorna, Luis, Paulina, Jorge, Diego, Abigail, Isabella, Rebecca, Rafael, Eduardo, Carolina, Carlos, Mireille, and Alejandro, her 8 great grandchildren along with her nieces and nephews, and her very loved sister-in-law, Bebe Knösel.

Visitation is scheduled for Friday, April 7, 2023, from 3PM to 8PM with the recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6PM at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral mass is scheduled for Saturday April 8, 2023, at 9AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with burial to follow at 10AM at Buena Vista Burial Park.

Services are under the guidance of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory & Flower Shop. 657 Springmart Blvd., Brownsville, Texas. (956) 350-8485

To send flowers or a plant to the family in the memory of Mrs. Mireille K. Varela, please visit https://didisflowershop.com/shop or call (956) 455-3718.