Evangeline Serra Barlow passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on September 24, 2022 at Houston Methodist at Willowbrook Hospital. Her death was of organ failure after suffering a major stroke.
Evangeline (Eva) was born on March 19, 1933 to Juan and Olivia Serra. She was raised in Mercedes, Texas, where her father was an orchard supervisor. She often stated her favorite memories were of running and playing in the fruit trees with her brother, David, and sister, Beatrice.
As adolescents, Eva and her sister Beatrice lived in a convent for several years. Life there was difficult for the sisters as they were not given familial love, had very little, and were separated from family and friends. The sisters had each other and would remain extremely close until Beatrice’s death.
Life was difficult for Eva as she struggled most of her life to make ends meet. She had to leave school early to help her family, but would later return to earn her GED as she grew to understand the importance of education. She was devoted to her family and was an example of “Woman Power”, as she was a working mother long before it was considered contemporary. She held many types of jobs over the years, working hard to teach herself the business to excel, and often becoming management despite having little education. She believed in working hard and making her own way, and worked until she was 76 years old.
Eva met and fell in love with her husband Weldon Barlow (Sonny-man). They were married and had 2 children, Phylis and Richard, before they divorced. Realizing that they were each other’s true love after quite a few years, they remarried and lived happily until Weldon’s death. She would remain widowed for the rest of her life.
She loved her family and considered having a 5-generation family for the last 54 years an amazing accomplishment as she moved through the ranks from grandmother, to great-grandmother and then great-great-grandmother. She would often state “they keep me young” as she helped in raising the great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She was often delighted to step in for appreciation days, field trips, school performances, and free classes at the school; because both parents worked full-time and she got to go in their place.
She loved Christ. Because of her experience at the convent and the many hardships she faced, at different points in her life it was difficult for Eva to maintain a faithful relationship with God. However, in recent years, Eva returned to the church with her sister, Betty Jean, where she happily became an active member of Northwest Baptist church and cherished the relationships she made there.
In her free-time, she enjoyed sewing, tending to her plants, reading the bible, and having a good cry while watching Hallmark movies.
She is preceded in death by her parents (Juan and Olivia Serra), her husband (Weldon), her son (Richard), grandson (Zachary), her 3 brothers (Alejandro, David, and John Jr.), and her 2 sisters (Beatrice and Mary).
She is survived by her daughter, Phylis; grandchildren Shannon and husband Keith, Shane and wife Whitney, Crystal and James (Jimmy); great grandchildren, Jamie, Sheigh, Eric, Annie, Zoe, and Kellan; and great-great grandchildren, Luca, Charlotte, and Francesca. Surviving siblings are her sister (Betty Jean) and brother (Robert). Additionally, she has four generations of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A visitation for Evangline will be held Saturday, October 8, 2022 from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Brookside Funeral Home. A funeral service will occur Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 2:00 PM. A committal service will occur Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 3:00 PM at Brookside Memorial Park.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brooksidefuneralhomelauder.com for the Barlow family.
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