Modena McIlhany

Modena McIlhany, 97, of Pasadena, TX, passed away June 4, 2016 with her family by her side. She was born to the late John Carlton and Idella Daniel on December 9, 1918 in Valley Mills, TX. Modena’s unique name came from her Uncle Moses and Aunt Dena. She graduated from Brownwood High School in 1936 and attended Howard Payne University shortly after. She married the late Joseph Graham McIlhany in 1942 and they lived together in Pasadena for thirty-three years.

For much of her life in Pasadena, Modena was a working mother and the bedrock of her family. Always an active member of her community, Modena always made time for her church, her family and her Texas Aggies. After she retired, Modena’s children gave her a set of golf clubs, igniting her twenty year love affair with the beautiful game of golf. Modena lived a wonderful life around these four pillars: God, family and friends, Aggie football and golf.

She was preceded in death by her parents and five siblings, Scott Daniel, Bruce Daniel, Clarice Barker, Mark Daniel, Mary Lou Heinze, and two grandsons Brett Danis and Bryan McIlhany.

Modena is survived by four children: Dan (Barbara) McIlhany of San Antonio; Tom (Mary) McIlhany of Mexia; Nancy Beguiristain of San Antonio; and Debra (Bill) Epp of San Antonio. Lovingly called Mammaw, she is survived by eight grandchildren: Lori Ryker of Montana; Scott (Erin) McIlhany of Idaho; Marc (Anne) McIlhany Houston; Rhonda (Bryan) Fix of Austin; Angie Danis of Houston; Darren Epp of San Antonio; Robert (Michelle) McIlhany of Mexia; Ryan (Kelli) Epp of San Antonio; and (Melanie McIlhany). Modena also had twelve great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held at 11 am Thursday, June 9 at the Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. The funeral and burial will take place immediately after at twelve noon at the Sunset Memorial cemetery.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Modena's caregivers Casey and Chris Walker and their assistant, Graciela, at The Retreat at Big Bluestem.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Bryan McIlhany Memorial Scholarship, Texas A&M Foundation, account #04-35096, giving.tamu.edu, (979)847-9314