Rita E Castro

Mrs. Rita Estrada Castro, 90 was called away by our Heavenly Father on Wednesday, October 17, 2012. She died of natural causes at her residence of over 60 years with family at her side. She was born in Naranjos Veracruz, Mexico on February 20, 1922 and immigrated to Brownsville, TX. in 1944.

“Guela”, as she was affectionately known by family, friends and co-workers, adored her family and her greatest joy was cooking lunch for them every Sunday. Her modest home accommodated twelve to eighteen people at time; everyone patiently waited their turn at the six person main table. Huge pots of homemade guisados, beans and rice, and her one-of-kind famous flour tortillas poured endlessly onto the table every Sunday without fail. When her arthritis made it too painful for her to roll out the tortillas, “Tia Pira” lovingly took over the cooking in the two years of her life. Sunday’s lunch will never be the same without her.

No stranger to hard, back-breaking work, Rita worked as a migrant worker with the family in the late 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. The migrant work stopped in the early 70’s and she found work, Pan American Foods and Gilmore Produce. She worked as a home provider taking care of the elderly even though she was an elderly person herself. Her last place of employment was at South West Key JJAEP kitchen located on Washington St. Her cooking, flour tortillas and warm personality were favorites among the students and the staff. South West Key named and honored her with the Employee of the Year Award in 2007. Her arthritis finally got the best of her and she reluctantly retired on 2008 at the age of 86.

She is survived by her 2 children, Antonio (Lupita) Estrada, Sr., Epifania (Arturo) Garza of Brownsville, TX.; sister, Mrs. Aurora Hernandez of West Palm Beach, FL. Her pride and joy were her grandchildren, Celina Estrada (Mike) Thomas of Bastrop, TX., Antonio(Veronica) Estrada Jr. of Marietta, GA., Jaime Estrada, Benjamin (Kathleen) Estrada , Alma Garza Gracia, Arturo (Belinda) Garza, Jr. of Corpus Christi, TX. and Aimee (David Limon) Garza. She had 12 great-grandchildren; Jayme (Adam)Campos Salinas, Marco Antonio (Danielle) Campos, Amanda C. Campos, Marco Antonio and Nadia Estrada of Marietta, GA., Ethan and Jade Estrada, Analisa and Maya Estrada, Aimee Julizza and Alfia Alexandra Gracia of Brownsville, TX. and Alexa Garza of Corpus Christi, TX. Most recently she was blessed with 3 great-great-granddaughters; Maddie and Lily Campos of Oceanside, CA., and Ava Danyelle Salinas of Austin, TX.

Mrs. Castro is preceded in death by her husband, Juan Cano Castro and brothers, Mateo and Saturnino Hernandez.

We would like to send a big thank you to Hospice Safe Haven, Mari Gonzalez and Yoli Rocha for taking such loving care of Guela.

Visitation will be held from 10am to 9 pm with recitation of the holy rosary at 7pm Friday, October 19, 2010 at Funeraria del Angel Buena Vista.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 am Saturday, October 20, 2012 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jaime Estrada, Benjamin Estrada, Ruben Hernandez, Arturo Garza, Jr., Mike Thomas and Celestino Abrego. Honorary Pallbearer will be Michael Garza.

You may view the obituary, sign the guestbook, and send your condolences online to Rita Estrada Castro’s family at www.funerariadelangelbuenavista.com

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista, cemeteries, mausoleums, and crematory. 125 McDavitt Blvd., Brownsville, Texas 78521 (956) 541-5400. Dignity Memorial Provider.