Maria Elia Garcia Cruz, of Brownsville, Texas, a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, entered eternal rest on July 14, 2024, at Valley Regional Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Nieves, Zacatecas, Mexico, in 1940.
Elia, a lifelong learner with an insatiable curiosity, earned three master’s degrees and a doctorate. She dedicated 62 years to education in Mexico, inspiring countless students as a teacher and administrator. Her passion for history led her to active roles in historical organizations in Brownsville and Matamoros, where she conducted research and published articles. Honored for her exceptional contributions, Elia was inducted into the Tamaulipas Honor Gallery and bestowed the Medal of Merit. An avid reader with a knack for puzzles, she also delighted in mastering foreign languages. In her later years, the joy of spending time with her grandchildren filled her days. Her bravery, fearlessness, selflessness, and charm will continue to transcend throughout future generations.
She is preceded in death by her father Raymundo Garcia Hernandez and her mother Manuela Cruz de Garcia; and her siblings Yolanda Garcia, Irma Torres (Juan Diego) and Marciano Garcia (Margarita).
Left to cherish her memory is her son, Juan Manuel Ortiz (Gracie Montalvo) and her daughter Alma Ester Ortiz Knopp (Anthony Knopp); her grandchildren Alma Michelle Rodriguez, Amber Ester Brown (Jeffery), Michael Rodriguez Jr., Alexander Manuel Ortiz (Tatum Stack), Catherine Grace Ortiz and Elizabeth Maribel Ortiz; and her great grandchildren Nicholas Brown and Calvin Brown; and her siblings, Joel Garcia Cruz (Velen), Socorro Guevara (Alberto), Francisco Javier Garcia (Lupe), Carmen Garcia, Raymundo Garcia (Sonia Canales†), Hector Garcia (Silvia), and Francis Berrout (Juan Angel)
Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 with recitation of The Holy Rosary at 6:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. The chapel opens at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. A chapel services will be held at 11:30 a.m. and burial is to follow at 1:00 p.m. to 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
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Brownsville Historical Association in the name of Elia Garcia Cruz. Follow the link below to donate:
https://www.brownsvillehistory.org/donate-brownsville-historical-association.html
Martes, 30 de julio de 2024
Sunset Memorial Funeral Home
Velación
1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Santo Rosario:
6:00 p.m.
Miércoles, 31 de julio de 2024
La capilla abre a las 10:00 a.m. en
Sunset Memorial Funeral Home
Servicio de capilla:
11:30 a.m.
Sepelio:
Buena Vista Burial Park
1:00 p.m.
Los servicios están bajo la dirección de Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory & Flower Shop. 657 Springmart Blvd., Brownsville, Texas. (956) 350-8485