Maria Imelda “Mela” Garza

Maria Imelda “Mela” Garza, 86, died Friday, May 20, 2016, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital.Born in Rio Grande City, raised in San Juan, TX. Mrs. Garza had lived in Pharr for 66 years. She graduated from PSJA High School in 1949 where she was a member of the Bearette drill team earning the title of Miss Bearette 1948 and later Miss Pan American 1950. She had the toughest job in the world, raising four boys. Mrs. Garza is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years, Benito Garza; her parents, Adalberto and Josefa Garza. Mela is survived by four sons: Ricardo (Anne) Garza of Round Rock, David (Veronica) Garza, Benito (Nancy) Garza Jr., and Rene (Anna) Garza all of Pharr; 11 grandchildren, Justin, Hunter, Victoria, Catherine, Matthew, Benny III, Brianna, Bianca, Bella, Zachary, and Julian; three brothers: Adalberto Garza Jr of Alamo; Ruben Garza, Armando Garza of McAllen; four sisters: Alicia Salinas, Estella Villegas of Alamo; Amparo Ramirez of Pharr; Rebecca De La O of Brownfield, TX.Mom was a strong family woman who enjoyed nothing more than spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, and family. We know you’re in a better place and it’s good to know that you are no longer in any pain. Mom, “God loves you and so do we.”Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary today, May 22, 2016, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Monday May 23, 2016 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Pharr. Interment will follow at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens in Pharr. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Justin Garza, Hunter Garza, Zachary Garza, Julian Garza, Benny Garza III, Matthew Garza, and Honorary pallbearers are nephews Ruben Garza, Noel Garza, and Roy Garza.The Garza Family would like to give Thanks to Dr. Francisco “Frank” Pena; Dr. Socrates Garrigos; Dr. Hector Soto; Fresenius Dialysis Center doctors, nurses and staff; Rio Grande Regional Hospital staff. Very special thanks to Dr. Prakash Palimar for the great care he gave to our mother and always reminding me what a beautiful smile our mother had. Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home of San Juan. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/themonitor/obituary.aspx?n=Maria-Imelda-Mela-Garza&pid=180065676#sthash.czDqQe3u.dpuf