Yolanda Garay

Yolanda “Yolie” Garay died peacefully on February 6, 2022, surrounded by her loving brothers, niece, and prayer angels. Yolanda was 66, a remarkably advanced age for someone with Down Syndrome, which speaks well of all those who helped raise her.

Yolie lived her early years in the loving care of her parents Gonzalo and Paula Garay and her sister Martina Schmerber in Eagle Pass, Texas. Upon her parents and sister’s death, Yolie was blessed with loving sisters who took great care of her, Paulina Reyna from Warsaw, Indiana and her sister, Maria G. Reyna, with whom she lived the rest of her years in San Antonio, Texas.

Despite her disability, Yolie loved to eat, sing, dance and had a great capacity to love children. She protected every child that came into her presence, and she would treat them with such tenderness. She had a great love for Mickey and Minnie Mouse and treated her stuffed toys like her children. Yolie impacted so many lives on a larger spectrum and was designated the honor of being selected as the poster child for Down Syndrome. She was also an active member of her parish and served as a Guadalupana at San Fernando Cathedral.

Yolanda is survived by her brothers Hector Garay, Gumercindo Garay, Alejandro Garay and sisters Paulina Reyna (Frank) and Eustacia Villasenor and countless nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents Gonzalo Garay, Paula Berumen Garay, her sisters Martina Schmerber, Maria G. Reyna, Leonides Rivera, and Leonor Rodriguez.

Visitation will be held at Funeraria del Angel Roy Akers on Sunday, February 20, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with the Recitation of The Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m. On Monday, February 21, 2022, the Funeral Procession will depart at 9:45 a.m. for a 10:00 a.m. Requiem Mass at San Fernando Cathedral with interment to follow at San Fernando II.