Elsa Margarita Ibarra

Elsa Margarita Garza de Ibarra, 67, our beloved daughter, wife, mother, step-mother, sister, aunt, and grandmother, went to be with our Lord on Monday, January 27, 2025 at Sunshine Haven in Olmito, Texas. She was born on June 02, 1957 in Brownsville, Texas to parents: Armando Garza Gonzalez and Maria Dolores Lozano. She attended elementary school in H. Matamoros Tamaulipas, Mexico, Colegio Mexico, before moving to Brownsville, Texas, where she attended Incarnate Word Academy. She graduated from Villa Maria High School in 1975. She attended both Pan American University and the University of Texas at Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas, obtaining both a Bachelor of Science and Masters Degree in Education and English as a Second Language. Elsa worked all of her life in different capacities. She worked for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a laboratory technician. After graduating from college, she worked as a teacher for the Brownsville Independent School District. She then left to Houston, Texas where she worked for both the Houston Independent School District and for the Spring Branch Independent School District, during the 1980's and 1990's. In 1992, she returned back to Brownsville, Texas and returned to work for the Brownsville Independent School District. While working for the school district, she worked at Resaca Elementary School, Besteiro Middle School, Faulk Middle School, and Dr. Juliet V. Garcia Middle School where she last worked. Elsa retired from the school district in 2008, having served as a dedicated school teacher for 32 years. She had a passion for teaching and found so much joy in teaching. She devoted her life to teaching young age and middle school children. Elsa received numerous awards and recognitions during her teaching career. She was also recognized with the Spirit Award from St. Luke Catholic School. Before she retired and while she was still working as a teacher, she became an entrepreneur alongside with her mother Maria Dolores Lozano de Garza, her sister Maria Cecilia Garza de Cruz, and her brother-in-law Reynaldo Cruz Vallejo, as they opened a nutrional store, Biological Nutrition Center. On March 07, 1997, she married Federico Ibarra Chavarria. The good Lord blessed their marriage with four beautiful children, three step-daughters and one son, who survive her: Lya Patricia Ibarra-Sanchez (Carlos), Liliana Julieta Ibarra-Mejia (Jesus), Cristina Ibarra-Saldivar (Javier), and Jorge Federico Ibarra Garza. She is also survived by her sisters: Lic. Maria Cecilia Garza-Cruz (Dr. Reynaldo), Dra. Sandra Susana Garza Lozano, Lic. Anna Cristina Garza Lozano, sister-in-law Lic. Mirta Rosario Ibarra Chavarria, and brother-in-law Lic. Enrique Ibarra Chavarria (Cuquis), along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and many friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Armando Garza Gonzalez and Maria Dolores Lozano, and her husband Ing. Federico Ibarra Chavarria. Elsa's hobbies included attending mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, getting together at her house with her classmates from high school to pray the rosary, a tradition she started and that as of today, still continues, enjoyed going out to breakfast, lunch, and dinner with family and friends, enjoyed traveling, going to concerts, get togethers with friends, playing loteria, and taking lots of pictures. She was a devout Catholic and it was her strong faith that instilled the values that made her the special person she was. She had an infectious personality with a smile that would light up the room. But what she enjoyed the most was being "Tita Elsa" and spending quality time with her eight grandchildren: Carlos Eduardo, Rodrigo, Diego Federico, Jesus Federico, Javier, Analia, Olivia, and Federico which were her pride and joy. Her presence will forever be missed. Visitation will be held from 3:00pm - 10:00pm, with a Chapel Service at 6:00pm. A Rosary to be recited at 7:00pm by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Luke on Saturday, February 8th, 2025 in Chapel of Angels, at Funeraria del Angel Buena Vista. All services will conclude Saturday night. As per our sister, mother, step-mother, and grandmother's wishes, cremation will follow.