Jenara Zendejas

She was lovingly known by her family and friends as Gigi, Grammy, Grandma GG, Big Grandma, Abuelita, and Abuela.

Gigi was a faithful member of San Jose Catholic Church, the church in which they were married. She was a member of the Catholic War Veterans, Post 1805, Ladies Auxiliary where she previously held the positions of Historian and State Welfare Officer.

Mama was a devoted wife to her loving husband Neftali "Nefy", a loving mom, grandma, and great grandma. She had 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. The moms and dads we are today is a legacy of our mother’s teachings. Mama was a homemaker, and raised 4 children while daddy served in the United States Air Force.

Mama will be greatly missed by her husband, Nefy of 70 years, daughters, Doris, Patsy, Margaret, and her son Sonny. Her grandchildren, Angela, Celeste, Frankie, Michael, Alexis, (Jeffrey), Mitchell, Elizabeth, and Ryan will all miss their grandma dearly.

Not only will her great grandchildren, Braden, AC, Cameron, Sloane, Lily, Thomas, Christopher, Victoria, Sydney, Quinn, Benjamin, Isabel, Miguel, CJ, and Mackenzie miss their grandma, big grandma, abuela, and abuelita dearly, but they will all miss her wonderful home-cooked meals. She will also be missed by her one surviving sister Theresa "Terry" Pena, and many nieces and nephews.

Mom and dad loved to go to parties or host parties in their home. We have memories of watching mom get all dressed up in her long beautiful evening gowns with her hair done up and her makeup, simply beautiful. They would go to dances all dressed up like this or simply get all dressed up to go to a friends home for a special gathering. Mama loved family reunions where we would spend time visiting with our aunts, uncles, cousins and their growing families sharing and making memories.

As our family grew we would put tables together and make one long table. Mama would sit closest to the oven and when the rolls were ready mom would toss them across the long table where we were all sitting. Mama was hilarious at telling jokes, the best part was not the joke itself, but mama trying to tell it while busting out laughing before the punch line was even heard. While our get togethers won't be the same, sitting around the table, eating, making tamales, drinking, laughing and telling jokes or poking fun at one another we will hold these memories close to us.

While we went to work, mama would watch our kids, her grandkids, and pick them up from school, feed them and keep them entertained until we picked them up at the end of the day. And because of this we now watch and take care of our grandchilden just as mamma did for us.

Most recently we introduced mama into today's technology using SnapChat and would make funny videos of ourselves and just laugh and laugh!

Mama had her own clock. We had to tell mom that an appointment or get together was 1 hour before the actual time because she would always take forever to get ready. Everything was around the corner and only took 5 minutes (she said). And we had better made sure whatever we were doing chocolate cake needed to be involved.

Today her children and grandchildren are wearing mama's scarfs as a symbol of our love for her. It's also a reminder to us that her loving arms are hugging us.

Pallbearers are her grandsons: Frankie, Michael, Mitchell, and Ryan and her great grandsons: Braden and Benjamin.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary to begin at 3:00 pm Sunday, September 20, 2020 at Weed-Corley-Fish South, 2620 S Congress Ave, Austin.

Funeral Mass 1:00 pm on Monday, September 21, 2020 at San Jose Catholic Church, 2425 Oak Crest Ave, Austin. Interment to follow at Assumption Cemetery.

Everyone must wear a mask and gloves are optional.

Those not wearing a mask will not be allowed to enter the Rosary or Church.

For those unable to attend, the Mass will be broadcast live through Facebook and YouTube. On YouTube just search for sanjosechurch.org then subscribe then you can share the link. On Facebook you can do the same, but create a watch party.