Celia R. Hernandez entered Eternal Rest on September 7, 2020 after a struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. Celia was born in Mission, Texas on May 3, 1941 to Senobio and Mercedes T. Reyna. Celia’s family moved to Raymondville, Texas where she grew up, attended school, and met the love of her life, Guadalupe Hernandez, Jr. After graduating from Raymondville High School, Celia earned a certification in cosmetology and opened her own beauty shop in Raymondville. She married Lupe Hernandez in 1964, and they lived in San Rafael, California while he served in the United States Air Force. The couple lived briefly in Tacoma, Washington before settling in suburban Houston to raise their three daughters.
As a young woman, Celia was an accomplished seamstress with an avid interest in fashion. Sewing came naturally to her, and she had the ability to recreate many of the fashions popularized in magazines without using patterns.
For most of her adult life Celia lived in Fort Bend County. She and her husband were founding members of St. Mark the Evangelist Church. Before she began working outside the home, Celia devoted herself to her daughters and her family life. She volunteered at her daughters’ schools as a homeroom mother, served on the PTA, acted as a San Jacinto Council Girl Scout chaperone, and as a Band Booster volunteer and chaperone. She attended all her daughters’ Marching and Symphonic band performances. She strongly believed in the education of girls and held her daughters to high academic standards. It was her dream that her three daughters complete their undergraduate degrees – a dream that she realized.
Celia’s interest in education led to a job instructing adult ESL students at night. Offered an opportunity to work as a teacher’s aide for the Fort Bend Independent School District, Celia obtained a para-professional certification by attending summer classes at Texas A&I University and Blinn College. She held many roles at Ridgemont Elementary including assisting students in the 5th grade, Bilingual Education, Kindergarten, and Pre-K. She retired from Fort Bend ISD after 24 years of service.
During retirement, Celia volunteered teaching ESL and CCE at her parish. She also traveled with her daughters and took her first trip to New York City in order to watch her granddaughter, Brianna, perform at Carnegie Hall with her high school orchestra.
Celia is preceded in death by her parents, Senobio and Mercedes Reyna, her brother, Jesus Reyna, and her beloved husband Guadalupe Hernandez, Jr. She is survived by her children, Sonya (Daniel) Flores of Round Rock, Graciela (Jair) Bobys of Sugar Land, and Elvia E. Hernandez of Missouri City; granddaughters Brianna and Sophia Flores; sister-in-law, Margarita Reyna of South Houston; sister-in-law Sophia Tamez of Rockport; sister-in-law Olivia Hernandez of Brownsville; sister-in-law Enriqueta Hernandez of Montclair, CA; brother-in-law Gavino Hernandez (Maridel) of Lyford; and sister-in-law Perla H. Cruz of Diboll. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and godchildren as well as so many loving friends.
The family extends their sincere appreciation to Celia’s caregivers, Glenda Matthews and Carmen Ventura, for the devotion and love they showed Mother, as well as Maria Medina and Juanita Lozano who acted as special advocates. Exceptional thanks to Dr. M. Obadah Nakawah and staff at the Nantz National Alzheimer Center at Houston Methodist Department of Neurology for his medical expertise and attentive care. Celia’s social network which included friends from her neighborhood, church, and community center allowed her to remain independent throughout much of her retirement.
Services for Celia begin Sunday, September 13, 2020 with a Visitation at 4 PM followed by a Rosary at 6:00 PM at The Settegast-Kopf Company (Sugar Creek), 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land 77478. On Monday, September 14, 2020 a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 AM, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 5430 W Ridgecreek Dr, Houston, TX 77053. The Rite of Committal will follow at South Park Cemetery, 1310 N Main Street, Pearland, TX 77581.
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