El Paso – A great warrior, Virginia Herrera Franceware, joined our Heavenly Father on June 9, 2021. Virginia, 98 years old, and a lifelong resident of El Paso, Texas, was born on May 25, 1923 to Aurelio Rivera Herrera and Maria Carlota Apodaca Ledesma of Las Cruces, Dona Ana New Mexico. She was the Herrera family matriarch.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband (Lorenzo “Sailor” Franceware Sr.), her brothers (Ben, John, Espiridion, Concepcion, Antonio, Ernesto, Jose, Luis, Willie), her sisters (Estefanita and Marta), her grandson Roger Franceware, her great nephew fallen El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputy Peter Herrera, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Virginia led an amazing and extraordinary life. She began her career in nursing, earned multiple certificates in License Vocational Nurses and Midwifery. Virginia was mentored by Sister Dolores, who taught her about infant care. She worked alongside the nuns in maternity clinics in Austin, Texas, before returning to work at Hotel Dieu Hospital in El Paso. Her next career adventure was at Segundo Barrio’s Newark Clinic/Hospital where she enjoyed and assisted not only in post-natal care but in countless infant deliveries. She not only was a devoted nurse, but also served as a public official as a registered Notary.
Virginia could gather people together as President of El Club de Alma Jovenes. As President, she kept the group active by creating and learning new dance moves in effort to participate in dance competitions. Any earnings from the dances were used to feed the community. It was because of her generous spirit that her peers, deemed her as a beacon of light to her community and an eternal flame of hope.
Virginia took great pleasure when she volunteered in several community organizations, always ready to assist anyone who needed a strong shoulder/soldier. Virginia retired from Newark Clinic and spent her retirement years traveling with her children, exploring new life adventures, and visiting with family and friends. Virginia was a true warrior who taught us the significance on staying together as a family, who taught us to think before speaking, and who taught us to never walk in life with fear but to walk in life trusting our instincts with eyes forward and to carry our good Lord in our hearts.
Virginia is survived by her sons Albert Perez (wife Peggy), Larry Franceware (wife Elma), Danny Franceware (wife Amy) and her daughters Rosie Franceware Rodriguez (husband Charlie), Delia Franceware Galvez (husband Fernando) and Sylvia Franceware. Immediate Grandchildren, Lisa Perez McGraw, Albert Perez Jr, David Perez, Jamie Perez, Laura Franceware, Lisa Franceware, Carlos
Franceware Rodriguez, Patricia Galvez Montagno, Monse Cairo and Belen Cairo. Additional 3 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, 8 great great grandchildren and a considerable extended family of nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4 - 8 PM with a rosary at 5 PM on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at Hillcrest Funeral Home, 1060 North Carolina Drive, El Paso, Texas. The rosary will be offered livestream on the Hillcrest Funeral Home Facebook. Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 519 Latta St. followed by a Gravesite service at 1 PM at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers: Belen Cairo, Carlos Franceware Rodriguez, Matthew Franceware Corona, Eduardo Franceware, Albert Perez Jr., and David Herrera
Serving as honorary pallbearers: Albert Perez, Larry Franceware, Danny Franceware, Antonio Herrera, Monse Cairo, Laura Franceware, Lisa Franceware, Patricia Galvez Montagno, and Lisa Perez McGraw
Family request: Please wear a mask. Thank you.
