1928
Enriqueta
2008
Enriqueta G. Reza
July 15, 1928 — November 29, 2008
San Benito, Texas
Enriqueta G. Reza, a life long San Benito resident who spent much of her retirement traveling throughout the country and in Europe, died Saturday following a brief illness. Mrs. Reza, 80, died at Harlingen Medical Center from the complications of a stroke.
She had spent a busy Thanksgiving Day at home celebrating with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren showing no outward symptoms of the condition that was to befall her the following day.
Mrs. Reza passed away peacefully shortly before midnight surrounded by her children hours after the family decided to end all artificial life support.
Nicknamed “Willie” by her sister Frances Sanchez because she was constantly “on the road” traveling to places like California, Las Vegas, New York City, Rome and on Caribbean cruises, Mrs. Reza crammed a lot of living in her Golden Years. She was accompanied by her sons and daughters on the trips.
“Mom went everywhere. She was never home,” said her daughter, Janie Reza Fox.
But nothing gave Mrs. Reza more joy than talking about her children and grandchildren, who are scattered throughout Texas and California, and their accomplishments. She saw her nine children and 15 of 16 grandchildren graduate from college. A son, Justino, Jr. was a junior at Texas A&M when he died in 1969. Her youngest grandchild, Victoria Gaytan, is a freshman at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
Justino D. Reza and Enriqueta Gonzalez were married on May 6, 1946 in San Benito a few months after he returned from World War II, where he served in C Company 739th Tank Battalion. While Mr. Reza went to work for the U.S. International Boundary & Water Commission, Mrs. Reza settled in as a stay-at-home mom caring for their nine children—five girls and four boys. Mr. Reza died in 1998.
After her youngest began attending elementary school, Mrs. Reza worked as a manager at Medico Pharmacy in San Benito for a few years.
Mr. and Mrs. Reza were active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and attended annual reunions of the 739th Tank Battalion. She continued to attend the meetings after her husband’s death.
Mrs. Reza is survived by sons Heliodoro, of San Diego, Ca., Alfredo, who lives in Fort Worth and David, a San Benito resident. Her daughters are: Lucy Morales, Harlingen; Yolanda Guerrero, Houston; Sylvia Reza, Brownsville; Janie Reza Fox, Harlingen; and Hilda Gaytan, Austin.
She is also survived by 11 granddaughters, five grandsons and three great grandsons. Survivors also include, sister, Freddie Ashton and brother, Alfredo de Loa both of California.
Viewing will be at 3pm to 9pm on Monday December 1, 2008 at San Benito Funeral Home with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral Services will be on Tuesday December 2, 2008 at 3pm at St. Teresa Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Mont Meta in San Benito on Tuesday afternoon. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of San Benito Funeral Home, 1400 West Hwy 77, San Benito, TX 78586, 956-361-9192
Enriqueta G. Reza, a life long San Benito resident who spent much of her retirement traveling throughout the country and in Europe, died Saturday following a brief illness. Mrs. Reza, 80, died at Harlingen Medical Center from the complications of a stroke.
She had spent a busy Thanksgiving Day at home celebrating with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren showing no outward symptoms of the condition that was to befall her the following day.
Mrs. Reza passed away peacefully shortly before midnight surrounded by her children hours after the family decided to end all artificial life support.
Nicknamed “Willie” by her sister Frances Sanchez because she was constantly “on the road” traveling to places like California, Las Vegas, New York City, Rome and on Caribbean cruises, Mrs. Reza crammed a lot of living in her Golden Years. She was accompanied by her sons and daughters on the trips.
“Mom went everywhere. She was never home,” said her daughter, Janie Reza Fox.
But nothing gave Mrs. Reza more joy than talking about her children and grandchildren, who are scattered throughout Texas and California, and their accomplishments. She saw her nine children and 15 of 16 grandchildren graduate from college. A son, Justino, Jr. was a junior at Texas A&M when he died in 1969. Her youngest grandchild, Victoria Gaytan, is a freshman at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
Justino D. Reza and Enriqueta Gonzalez were married on May 6, 1946 in San Benito a few months after he returned from World War II, where he served in C Company 739th Tank Battalion. While Mr. Reza went to work for the U.S. International Boundary & Water Commission, Mrs. Reza settled in as a stay-at-home mom caring for their nine children—five girls and four boys. Mr. Reza died in 1998.
After her youngest began attending elementary school, Mrs. Reza worked as a manager at Medico Pharmacy in San Benito for a few years.
Mr. and Mrs. Reza were active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and attended annual reunions of the 739th Tank Battalion. She continued to attend the meetings after her husband’s death.
Mrs. Reza is survived by sons Heliodoro, of San Diego, Ca., Alfredo, who lives in Fort Worth and David, a San Benito resident. Her daughters are: Lucy Morales, Harlingen; Yolanda Guerrero, Houston; Sylvia Reza, Brownsville; Janie Reza Fox, Harlingen; and Hilda Gaytan, Austin.
She is also survived by 11 granddaughters, five grandsons and three great grandsons. Survivors also include, sister, Freddie Ashton and brother, Alfredo de Loa both of California.
Viewing will be at 3pm to 9pm on Monday December 1, 2008 at San Benito Funeral Home with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral Services will be on Tuesday December 2, 2008 at 3pm at St. Teresa Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Mont Meta in San Benito on Tuesday afternoon. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of San Benito Funeral Home, 1400 West Hwy 77, San Benito, TX 78586, 956-361-9192
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