Rafaela G. Tapia

Rafaela Gomez Tapia, age 96, passed away peacefully January 6, 2015. Rafaela was born in Pirtleville, AZ on October 24, 1918 to the late Emeterio Gomez and Maria Garcia Gomez. Her family moved to Chihuahua, Mexico when she was still very young. As a teenager, her mother passed away leaving her and her father to take care of her other 5 siblings. She was the eldest and now the last one to leave this earth. Later they moved to Cd. Juarez, Mexico, where she worked in the photography industry in El Paso, TX. In 1948 she met the late Calixto Tapia, married him in 1949 and then settled in El Paso, TX there they raised 2 daughters. Rafaela and her husband were sole proprietors of El Paraiso Fruit Stand for many years and in 1987 Rafaela moved to Corpus Christi.

She was a loving woman of God for those of us who were graced by her presence in our lives’, the loss of Rafaela G. Tapia comes with great sadness. Though she was 96, her departure leaves us shaken and wanting her presence still with us. During the last 4 years she suffered a stroke where it only debilitated her compounded with Alzheimer’s easily over taking her little by little. Even with the Alzheimer’s present, she never stopped praying and giving thanks to God for everything she had. She always put God before anything else even her physical pain towards the end. She lived a long life of compassion and love for others. She was a very humble, loving and very wise person who always had a word of advice to give, to give of her herself and to give material things to others without asking for anything in return. Those close to her will also remember her by her favorite songs "El Rancho Grande" and "Cielito Lindo".

Rafaela is survived by her daughter, Lily Tapia-Abecia and husband, Miguel A. Abecia of Corpus Christi, her daughter, Josie Bohamad who is now also with her in heaven; grandchildren, Roberto C. Abecia, Anjelina Y. Abecia of Corpus Christi, Alex Abecia who is now also with her in heaven, Ismael Jaber Ali Bohamad, Yasmein Jaber Ali Bohamad, Zahra Jaber Ali Bohamad, Salman Jaber Ali Bohamad, Fatema Jaber Ali Bohamad, Zainab Jaber Ali Bohamad and Ali Jaber Ali Bohamad and husbands and wives respectively of Kuwait and by her 19 great-grandchildren also of Kuwait.

Visitation will be held from 4pm to 9pm with a Rosary to be recited at 7pm. on Friday, January 16, 2015 at Funeraria del Angel on 549 Cheyenne. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00am on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church at 5830 Williams. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery on 8200 Old Brownsville.

Pallbearers will be Miguel Abecia, Roberto Abecia, Lorenzo Ramos, Jason Tackett, Noe Martinez and Abel Martinez.