CARMEN R. RAMIREZ
Tue, 2015-11-24 20:44
News Staff
Carmen R. Ramirez, beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on November 17, 2015, at the age of 89 at, Briarcliff Nursing Center in McAllen, Texas. The eldest of nine children, she was born on July 16, 1926 in Pharr, Texas to Rodolfo and San Juanita Renteria. She married her devoted husband, Bernardo L. Ramirez, Jr., in April of 1947 after he returned from honorably serving in World War II. She and Bernardo were proud to raise their six children in Pharr. Carmen was a strong, faithful Catholic woman who loved homemaking, volunteering in her community, and attending mass. After providing a loving home and raising her six children, she became employed with the PSJA school district and retired after fourteen years of service. She then became a volunteer at the Pharr Memorial Library and Driscoll Children’s Hospital. She was a past recipient of the “Mother of the Year” award from the Fraternal Order of Eagles Ladies Auxiliary in Pharr, Texas. Carmen was the matriarch of a large and devoted family, and she will be dearly missed.
Carmen was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Ramiro “Sonny” Renteria; her sister, Paulita “Witta” Garcia; and her beloved husband, Bernardo. She is survived by her loving children and their spouses, Cris (Jaime) Sandoval; Corina (David) Cardoza; Cynthia (Homer) Gallegos and Sandra (Rey) Guerra, all of McAllen, Texas, Belinda Villarreal of Houston, Texas and Bernardo “Tito” (Corina) Ramirez, III of Pharr, Texas. She is also survived by her siblings, Rudy Renteria and Richard Renteria of Pharr Texas; Rachel Rodriguez of Victoria, Texas; Rosario “Rose” Rubio of Green Valley, New Mexico; Linda Rubio of Austin, Texas and Roy Renteria of McAllen, Texas. She is further survived by 13 grandchildren; Jaime Sandoval, Jr., Krystal Sandoval Trevino, Maritza Cardoza Pedraza, Monica Cardoza Rodriguez, Marco Cardoza, Gabrielle Gallegos Espino, Erick Villarreal, Lisa Villarreal, Kristalee Guerra Mata, Gina Guerra Garza, Michael Ray Guerra, Trey Ramirez, Bryan Ramirez; and 19 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Trey Ramirez, Bryan Ramirez, Jaime Sandoval, Jr., Marco Cardoza, Michael Ray Guerra and Erick Villarreal.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
John 5:24.
Visitation was held from 5 to 9 p.m., with 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Funeral service took place at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Pharr. Interment followed at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens in Pharr. Funeral services were under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.