Elizabeth F. Garza

Elizabeth Garza was born on September 15, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois. At 4 years old, she and her sister, Rosita, were adopted by Julia and Charles Fernandez in Waukegan, Illinois. She grew up in North Chicago and attended Waukegan Township High School. On March 12, 1955, “Lile” married the love of her life, Carlos Garza. In 1960, they moved to Houston, Texas. They were married for 65 years and created a beautiful life together. Elizabeth was the matriarch of a beautiful family. She adored her 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth devoted her life to taking care of her husband and family. She was a room mom, Sunday school/vacation bible school teacher, arts and crafts coordinator, sewed costumes and babysat her grandchildren and neighborhood kids. As an empty nester she was led to create and run the Night Owls program at Katy Community Hospital in Katy, Texas for 6 years. Through this program, Elizabeth, a night owl herself, provided childcare for hospital staff working the night shift. Elizabeth loved to cook, read books, travel and she loved to crochet. Her favorite memories were Sunday dinners and family celebrations. She was a devoted Christian, a founding member of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Katy, Texas, and her faith was very important to her. She was extraordinarily selfless, kind, and happy.

Elizabeth and her sister were adopted at a young age. Since her adoption records were sealed, she spent most of her life wondering about her biological family. At 80 years old, with the help of DNA testing, she finally found her family, the Lozanos. She learned that they too had looked for her for many years. Though she was preceded in death by her long-lost siblings, in August 2017, she traveled to Virginia Beach to meet her half-brother, Alfred Carrillo. It was a reunion to remember.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her sister, Rosie Fernandez, her son, Robert Garza, and her granddaughter, Monica Garza. She is survived by her husband, Carlos Garza of Richmond, Texas, her daughter, Debra & Wayne Nichols of Katy, Texas, her son, Carlos & Diane Garza of Sugarland, Texas, her son, Ricardo & Ramona Garza of Richmond, Texas, and her daughter, Linda & Brian Kryszewski of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Sandra Garza, and her grandchildren: Laurie Garza, Robert Garza, Daniel Nichols, Stephanie Flores, Vannessa Vasquez, Carlos Garza, Jr., Jennifer Loveless, Ricardo Garza, Jr., Cody Garza, Kristina Herrera, Caitlin Nugent, Matthew Garza, Andrew Nugent, and Abigail Nugent. Her great-grandchildren will remember her by the crocheted blankets, toys, and trinkets she made for them.

We miss her dearly and take comfort knowing that her son and sister, who both passed away in 2020, were waiting for her in heaven with open arms.

A service celebrating Elizabeth’s life will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 10 am, at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX. The service will also be streamed live through the funeral home website.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org).

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