Vencie R. Garza

Vicenta (Vencie) Garza, age 90, of Houston, Texas, beloved Mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away peacefully on the 11th of December 2019. Vencie entered into eternal glory resting in the arms of the Lord for all eternity. She endured her ten-year battle against Alzheimer’s with grace, courage and dignity.

Vencie was born April 28, 1929 is San Antonio, Texas. She graduated from San Fernando High School where she participated in the drum and bugle corps and the Italian Social Club where she was honored as Princess. She sold war bonds during her high school years.

At age seventeen, she married the love of her life, David Garza, Jr. in San Antonio. The family moved to Houston where David Garza founded the Monterey House Mexican Food Restaurants in 1955. In addition to raising three daughters, Vee worked tirelessly with her husband to grow the restaurant into a regional chain of over 100 locations.

Vencie, known to everyone as “Vee”, spoke and wrote Spanish fluently. She was fluent in Italian. She was a voracious reader. Her favorite past time was going to a bookstore or the library. She stayed there for hours reading history, biography and whatever else engaged her bright intellect.

In the early days of the Monterey House, Vencie translated company newsletters into Spanish for the Spanish employees. And she worked tirelessly translating for Monterrey House employees to help them become American citizens.

Vee is best remembered for her profound love of family and her incredible care and respect for animals, including most of all, her beloved poodle, Blankie. She loved music, all kinds from Bach to rock; and oh could she dance!

More than any accomplishment, Vee cherished her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her eight grandchildren provided her greatest joy in life.

She loved and lived life passionately! She loved to laugh and saw the humor in the most mundane aspects of life. She was incredibly generous of spirit, always extremely supportive and always encouraged us in all our endeavors!

Vencie lived with her daughter Christine and son-in-law Chuck Rayburn for the last twenty-five years of her life. They devoted their life to taking care of her and because of this, Vencie lived a long interactive life. Except for her last two years, she was reading sentences from a magazine. Her mind was still with us and she recognized her family. Christine and Chuck had a real estate business and Vencie would go with Chuck to put out listing signs. Vee enjoyed this so much because she loved going places and being outside. She would go into the homes to view them with Chuck and come back to tell Christine all about them. On pretty days, Chuck would bring a lawn chair so she could sit under a tree and read her newspaper. She was very close to Chuck and loved the attention that Chuck gave her. Christine and Vencie spent many loving times together. She looked forward to her favorite Latte at Starbuck’s. At night she loved her milk shakes. She could spend hours in an art museum or browsing in a department store. Vee spoiled Buster, the family furr baby. Christine, Vee and Buster took daily walks. Vee’s constant attention kept all the plants beautiful - inside and outside.

Their son Corbin was active in sports in high school and college and Vee loved to go to his games. His teammates loved her.

She cherished every memory, sad, happy, joyous, humorous and beautiful! Before ALZ kept her from traveling, she loved to travel to visit her daughters and all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was always a big family affair and Vencie was always the center of attention. She will be remembered as “GGV” to her precious great grandchildren Ava Jewel and Escher.

The beautiful memories her daughter Rosalind remembers are the visits to Nacogdoches, Texas where Vee enjoyed trips to the zoo with her granddaughter Mimianne. She especially reveled in taking Mimianne’ dogs for a walk daily where she lived with Mimianne for a month. Feeding the squirrels was another favorite pastime of hers and cuddling in a pile of furr babies with her great granddaughter Shelbie. She shared a very close bond with Mimi. A particularly special memory is when, during a holiday visit, Rosalind made blueberry muffins. Vee took one bite and said, “These are terrible!” (they really did taste bad). We laughed so hard tears were running down our faces and then Vee tried to trick her daughter-in-law Ricki to take a bite and the laughter continued. She loved her white wine and her Mexican food. Her grandson Eddie was her favorite comedian. He had a special way of making her laugh, oh how she loved it!

The memories that stay the strongest and heaviest in her daughter Diana’s heart are the deep, loving memories she has of her with granddaughters Ashley and Cara! She will always remember how deeply she loved the girls: laughing, playing, singing to them when they were little, enjoying them so much in each phase of their lives.

There is little doubt that Vencie was escorted to heaven on the wings of God's angels! There is also very little doubt that the dear Lord commended her on her gallant battle with Alzheimer's. Until we meet again, our most precious Vee, we will love you and honor you all the days of our lives.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, David Garza Jr., her beloved parents Nato and Marie Ruffo, Her sisters Frances McAdams and Carmela Garcia, and by her first beloved granddaughter Mimianne Johansson.

She is survived by her daughters Christine Rayburn and husband Chuck; Rosalind Johansson and husband Eddie; Diana VanHootegem and husband Tom.

Sisters Josie Alexander, Katie Urdahl and Rosemary Ruffo Leonard.

Grandchildren: Corbin Rayburn, Eddie Johansson IV and wife Ricki, Ashley Crump and husband Tavis, Cara Johnson and husband Matt.

Great grandchildren: Elle Rayburn, Shelbie Rose Johansson, Ava Jewel Johansson, Eddie Escher Johansson V, William, Nicholas and Christopher Crump, and Arlo Johnson.

The family would like to express their deepest love and gratitude to the loving caregivers Mehret Zeredawit, Luam Zeredawit and Thelma Lovo whose daily care and compassion and love the last ten years has been immeasurable. The family would also like to express great appreciation to the visiting physicians Dr. Ramahn, Dr. Ayala; Comfort Care & Hospice for the love, compassion, and excellent care given to our Mother during the last year of her life.