Ernesto Garcia Mendez

Ernesto Garcia Mendez, 82 of Georgetown, passed away on Saturday, December 15, 2012 with his loving family at his side. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel, 393 North IH 35, Georgetown, with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 10:00AM at St Helen's Catholic Church, 2700 East University Avenue, Georgetown. Interment will follow at Georgetown Memorial Cemetery, honoring Ernesto serving as pallbearers will be Steven Hay, Kevin Hay, Timothy Mendez, Matthew Lemons, Joshua Lemons, and Logan Mendez. Honorary pallbearers will be Ethan Mendez and Regan Mendez. Ernesto was born May 27, 1930 in Weslaco, Texas to the late Luciano and Angelita Garcia Mendez. Ernesto spent his childhood and young adult life in Weslaco, being raised together with 13 brothers and sisters. He met the love of his life in Weslaco, Maria Isabel Rodriguez; they were united in marriage on December 15, 1953 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. Together starting their family and building a loving home they moved to Georgetown, Texas. Ernesto went to work for the Maintenance Department for the City of Georgetown. He spent 28 years with the City of Georgetown, retiring in 1993. Ernesto was instrumental in the construction of several of the projects in the San Gabriel Park. His mason work can be seen in the Sunken Garden and the rock formation down on the river. Ernesto and Maria have been longtime and active members of St. Helen’s Catholic Church. He enjoyed vegetable gardening and any handyman project that he could do for friends and family. Ernesto will fondly be remembered for his honest, hardworking ethics, he was well loved and respected. Ernesto is preceded in death by his parents, Luciano and Angelita Garcia Mendez; his infant son, Steven Mendez; his 8 siblings; his granddaughter, Jennifer Janda and his son-in-law, John Janda. Ernesto leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving wife of 59 years, Maria R. Mendez of Georgetown; his children, Magdalena “Maggie” Lopez and her husband Salvador of Georgetown, Jose Ernesto “Joe” Mendez and his wife Rosie of Georgetown, Sylvia Janda of Georgetown, Enrique “Ricky” Mendez of Georgetown, Celia “Sally” Mendez of Round Rock and Reynaldo “Rey” Mendez and his wife Maria E. of Georgetown. Also surviving Ernesto are his 12 grandchildren, Steven Hay, Kevin Hay and his wife Lauren, Stephane Lopez, Amanda Mendez, Timothy Mendez and his wife Danielle, Victoria Janda, Matthew Lemons, Joshua Lemons, Ethan Rey Mendez, Logan Mendez, Regan Thomas Mendez and Michael Olivares; his great grandchildren, Max Joseph Mendez, Aidan Alexander Aldaco, Avery Tobias Aldaco, Hayden John Stevens, Brayden James Hay, Brianna Renee Hay,; his three sisters, Alba Perez, Angelita Ramirez and Elida Hinojosa; along with numerous other loving family members and friends. Memorial donations are requested by the family to St. Helen’s Catholic Church, The Caring Place or PANCAN to further Pancreatic Cancer Research. Personal words of comfort may be sent to the family online at www.gabrielsfuneral.com.