Dr. Jose Luis Castaneda

Dr. Jose Luis Castañeda, MD, beloved husband, father, grandfather, physician, and friend, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on May 8, 2026, in Brownsville, Texas, at the age of 75. He was born on October 25, 1950, in Matamoros, Mexico.

For more than 50 years, Dr. Castañeda dedicated his life to the care of children and families as a compassionate pediatrician serving the communities of Brownsville, Hebbronville, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Seguin, Luling, Lockhart, and Victoria, Texas, as well as Youngstown, Ohio, and Mexico City, Mexico. Throughout his remarkable career, he cared for multiple generations of families, earning the trust, admiration, and love of countless patients and colleagues. His kindness, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to medicine left a lasting impact on the lives of all who knew him.

Dr. Castañeda graduated in 1974 from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Facultad de Medicina. He was a lifelong learner whose passion for knowledge extended far beyond medicine. His ambition was unmatched; in addition to being an accomplished physician, he was a skilled navigator of the sky (pilot), an award-winning photographer who found beauty in everyday life, and an active member of his church. He was a top-tier pool player, loved playing classical piano, and was involved in organizations such as the Knights of Columbus.

Above all, Dr. Castañeda was a devoted family man and a faithful servant of God. He lived his life with integrity, compassion, generosity, and humility, truly embodying the values and teachings of his faith. He was a loving husband, a supportive and caring father, and a proud grandfather who treasured every moment spent with his family.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years, Diana M. Castañeda; his children, Adrianna (Dean) Fields, Charlotte (Justin) Hintz, Alexandar (Valerie) Castañeda, Marco Antonio (Valentina) Castañeda, and Jose Luis Castañeda Jr. (“Pepe”); and his cherished grandchildren, Isabella Fields, Wesley Fields, Evan Hintz, Connor Hintz, Christina Castañeda, and Carissa Castañeda.

He is also survived by his siblings, Salvador Castañeda Jr. (Araceli), Beatrize (Ramiro) Gomez, and Margarita (Aaron) Ramirez.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Estella (Robert) Frederickson and Rosa Guerra, and his parents, Salvador Castañeda and Esparanza Guardiola.

Dr. Castañeda’s legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched as a physician, mentor, friend, and family man. He will be remembered for his warm spirit, his dedication to serving others, his endless curiosity and love of adventure, his contagious dance moves that could light up any room, and the joyful way he encouraged everyone around him to celebrate life fully. Guided always by his deep faith in God, he inspired others not only through what he accomplished but through the kindness, laughter, and love he shared so freely every day.

The Castañeda family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all those who have shared their prayers, love, and support during this difficult time.

Visitation will be held at Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista, Chapel of Peace, 125 McDavitt Blvd, Brownsville, Texas, on May 12, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, with a Rosary at 7:00 pm.

A Funeral Mass will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 555 W. St. Francis St, Brownsville, TX, on May 13, 2026, at 11:30 am, followed by Burial at Rosa Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4464 Old Port Isabel Road, Brownsville, TX 78526 on May 13, 2026, at 1:00 pm.

Serving as his pallbearers will be Marc Brackhahn , Alexander Castañeda, Marco Antonio Castañeda, Jorge Ramirez MD , Alejandro Castañeda, Juan Antonio Diaz as well as his honorary pallbearer: Jose Luis Castaneda Jr., Justin Hintz, Manuel Molina, and Dean Fields.