JUAN SERNA JR.

PHARR – Juan Serna Jr., 70, entered eternal rest Tuesday, September 19, 2017, at his residence surrounded by his family.

Born in Pharr, he lived there all of his life and was a Eucharistic Minister and active ACTS member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church. Juan was a 1965 graduate of PSJA High School and earned a Master’s Degree from Pan American University where he was a member of the fraternity Phi Kappa Theta. He was a member of the United States Army Reserved and National Guard. Mr. Serna served the PSJA ISD community for 39 years as a math teacher and baseball coach, then as Assistant Principal at Memorial Middle School. He later became Principal at LBJ Middle School. He then served as Director of Student Services until his retirement. Juan was actively involved in his community where he coached the City of Pharr PONY Baseball League for 20 years and served as Pharr City Commissioner from 1986 to 1990.

Mr. Serna is survived by his wife, Diana Yvonne Serna of Pharr; four children, Laura (Arnold) Salinas, Sandra Serna (Roel Castro), Isaac Serna, all of Pharr, Noe Serna of Mission; six grandchildren, AJ, Andrea and Isaac Salinas; John, Mark and Luke Castro; his parents, Juan Sr. and Olivia Serna of Pharr; six siblings, Hilda (Guadalupe) Hernandez of Bay City, Michigan, Laly (Victor) Hernandez of San Juan, Sylvia Serna Dimas of McAllen, Jaime Serna, Melinda (Richard) Villarreal, both of Pharr, Gloria (Mike) Fleming of Chandler, Arizona; a sister in law, Frances Guajardo of Houston; a brother in law, Daniel (Ofelia) Ramirez of San Juan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held from 5 to 9 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary Thursday, September 21, 2017, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. A memorial mass took place at 8 a.m. Friday, September 22, 2017, at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Pharr. Burial followed at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens in Pharr.

Funeral services were under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.