Raquel Garza Jonon

Raquel Garza Jonon passed away on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at the age of 83. She was born in San Antonio, Texas to Samuel Borrego Garza and Anita Gonzalez Garza on May 10, 1939, the second eldest of their 12 children.

She grew up in San Antonio and, as a child, her school teachers would fine students for speaking Spanish instead of English. This was perhaps in part why she went on to study languages and became a bilingual educator.

She married Jack Jonon and lived in Carrollton, Texas where they had 5 daughters and several dogs. Before her fifth child was born, she enrolled in Texas Woman’s University, earning her B.A. & B.S. degrees in 1982. She continued her study of languages at TWU, Spanish in particular, and received her Masters degree in 1985.

After a brief career in real estate, she was ready to transition to teaching. In 1987, she moved to Austin, Texas where she began teaching as a first-grade ESL teacher at Blackshear Elementary. Upon moving to South Austin, she transitioned to Covington Middle School, where she taught Spanish and French. She was also the tennis coach (assisted by Jack) and taught an after-school cooking class. One year she took some of her students on a trip to Mexico. While visiting Chichén Itzá, some of the local vendors found out she was a teacher and asked her a question about reading. Right there on the steps, she began an impromptu English lesson. Prior to retirement, she returned to Blackshear Elementary as an ESL teacher where her true passion was helping young children learn the skills to read and write so they might continue to pursue their dreams. Her dedication was widely appreciated and during the 2002-2003 school year she was recognized as a semifinalist for AISD’s Teacher of the Year award.

Raquel was an incredibly talented craftsman who could sew, crochet, knit, quilt, weave, and needlepoint beautiful items. She raised five, strong women and passed on that love of artistry. She is survived by those daughters: Margaret Buford (Robert), Diane Jonon, Denise Jonon (Den), Frances Jonon (Mike), and Sylvia Jonon (Eddie). She is also survived by granddaughters Elena and Julia, who lovingly called her Nana.

She is preceded in death by her husband Jack.

We love you, Mom, and we’ll keep trying to perfect the tamale recipe.

A visitation and celebration of life service will be on Friday, October 21, 2022, 4 PM at the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home (2620 S. Congress Ave.).

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Austin Humane Society at austinhumanesociety.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wcfishsouth.com for the Jonon family.