Irene Quintanilla

Irene Quintanilla, beloved mother, wife, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully to be with her Lord on the 19th of September 2012. She was born in Houston, Texas on the 9th of January 1921 to Manuel and Anita Gutierrez Martinez. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Robert Quintanilla, and her brother Clemente Martinez.

Irene and her siblings attended Holden Institute in Laredo, Texas. She was captain of her basketball team and won city championship in tennis and received the all-around girl medal. After school, she pursued a career in nursing, attending Jefferson Davis Hospital School of Nursing in Houston where she graduated in 1945. She was a lifelong nurse who worked at Northside Clinic, St Joseph Hospital, Jefferson Davis Hospital School of Nursing and Ben Taub Hospital where she retired.

Her life was rich and full, loved by her husband of 52 years, Robert and her 5 children, Elsie Sinclair, Robert Quintanilla and Rosa, and Richard and Rachael Cox, Mary and Jeffrey Coldwell and Helen Quintanilla. Her grandchildren, Monica and husband Aaron Estrada, Robert and Lauren Coldwell and Jennifer Quintanilla, her great- grandchildren, Lucia, Carlos and Anthony Estrada. Other survivors include her brothers Richard and Olivia Martinez, Edward and Maria Elena Martinez, and her sisters Mary I. Vaughan, Minerva and Luis Soto, Anita Martinez Roth and many nieces and nephews and treasured friends. Special thanks to her loving care givers at the Clarewood House for their love and support.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock this afternoon until seven o’clock this evening, Friday, the 21st of September, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where the recitation of the Holy Rosary is to commence at half past six.

A Mass of Christian Burial is to be offered at ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 22nd of September at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, 10135 West Road in Houston, where the Rev. John Francis Ulm, Pastor, is to officiate.

The Rite of Committal will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston.

Immediately following the Rite of Committal, all are invited to greet that family during a reception in the Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Irene’s memory may be made to the Clarewood House extended care or activity fund, 7400 Clarewood Drive Houston, Texas 77036.