Emma M Galvan

MCALLEN- Emma Montemayor Galvan, age 88, passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home on Sunday, September 15th. The youngest of 12, was born on September 25th, 1935 to Jose Montemayor and Jacinta Garcia in Allende, Nuevo Leon, México. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arturo and daughter, Sylvia.

She is survived by daughters Rosa Emma (Ruben) Rodriguez of McAllen, Leticia (Robert) Adame of Pharr, Yolanda (José) Rodriguez of Miami, FL; four grandchildren, Gabriela Cristina Rodriguez Whitney (Scott) of Castine, ME, Gina Araceli Rodriguez of New York City, NY, Roberto Arturo Alejandro Rodriguez of Rapid City, SD, and Andres Alexander Rodriguez of Miami, FL; one great-grandson Matteo Emmanuel Whitney of Castine, ME.; one brother, Jose Montemayor and countless nieces and nephews.

Doña Emma, as she was affectionately known, was a nurse in Linares. She married Arturo and moved to Pharr, Texas to start a family. Arturo and Emma established a faithful, honest and committed personal relationship, as well as a business relationship. They created a habit to help others. Soon after Arturo’s passing, Emma made a quick decision to purchase a house to remodel and rent. This created an additional habit of keeping busy with daily prayer, going to the gym twice a day and checking on her first business venture by herself.

She was a devout Catholic who instilled the love of God and the Virgin Mary in her family’s life with endless travels to many churches throughout Mexico and Europe. She started her religious commitment in the Valley with St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church as an active parishioner, then a eucharistic minister, serving at mass, nursing homes and prison. She reluctantly accepted to be a lecturer and overcame her fear of speaking in front of others. Her circle of friends grew even more when she joined the Legion of Mary and became one of the Guadalupanas. Her religious commitment not only expanded to daily mass at both St. Margaret’s Church and the Basilica of San Juan, but also to her favorite ritual of praying at the most precious grotto of St. Jude’s Thaddeus of Pharr.

She relished spending time with family and friends, doting on her daughters and grandchildren, traveling, playing the piano, shopping at her favorite Macy’s or Pier 1 and constantly winning at card/board games. Emma was a very loving wife, caring mother, ideal mother-in-law, best grandmother, and a loyal and good friend to all. She was a very compassionate woman who was greatly admired for her unwavering generosity, advice, willingness to offer a helping hand and feeding the hungry. Emma’s contagious laughter and ebullient personality will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.

The Galván family will receive family and friends on Thursday, September 19th. Viewing starts at 5:00 pm with a Rosary at 7:00 pm at Funeraria Del Angel Palm Valley in Pharr. Visitation will continue Friday 9:00 AM where will we then process to the the Funeral mass that will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, September 20 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Pharr. Interment will follow at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens in Pharr.

Funeral services are under the direction of Funeraria Del Angel Palm Valley of Pharr.