“A mother is with us always, first in her lifetime, and then forever in our memory.” Juany, as her friends and family called her, was a dedicated wife and mother first and foremost. She treasured her children, adored her husband of 50 years, but especially loved her role as Nana.
However, before becoming a wife and mother, Juany was a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a student, a niece, and a friend. Growing up in Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Juany worked hard and excelled in school. She received good grades, and was always well liked by her peers. She enjoyed having many friends, many of whom became lifelong friends, like Lety and Rosalía, who she remained in contact with throughout her adult life.
As a devout Catholic, Juany was also involved in various religious groups through San Martin de Porres Catholic Church. She spent time participating in church youth group activities such as choir and oral reading, her favorite being poetry.
When the time came to begin thinking about her future after high school, she decided she might want to be an accountant, so she enrolled and graduated from La Academia Practica de Comercio with an accounting degree. Her love of fashion and beauty roused her curiosity and eventually led her to study cosmetology and open her own beauty salon.
Juany thrived in social situations and truly enjoyed laughing, which attracted her to the love of her life. From the day they met, Jose took her dancing and to the movies, which were her two favorite social activities. Eventually they married, moved to McAllen, and had children. At that point, Juany chose to put her family first and became a home maker, which in her opinion, was her greatest accomplishment. She was very proud of her family.
Her passing leaves a void in all who loved her and fondly remember her as a person of faith. She was someone who always accepted God’s will; someone who listened to you if you needed to talk, and someone who always enjoyed a good story or a good joke. Juany’s laughter, warmth, generosity and love, are what her family will miss most about her.
Juany is survived by her beloved husband, Jose C Avila Sr; daughter Brenda Avila Gutierrez (Victor); and son Jose Avila Jr. (Amber); six grandchildren, Karina Gutierrez, Dakota Avila, Preston Avila, Dominique Avila, Eli Avila and Steven Avila; three siblings, Cristina Herrera, Eusebia Herrera and Jose Angel Herrera, along with numerous extended family and friends..
Juana was preceded in death by father Cipriano Herrera and mother Concepcion Herrera.
A visitation / visitacion for Juany will be held Monday, May 31, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Funeraria Del Angel Palm Valley, Pharr, Texas with her rosary / rosario being recited at 7:00 PM. A catholic mass / misa catolica will occur Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, McAllen, Texas with her burial / sepelio to follow at 11:00 AM at La Pieda Cemetery, McAllen, Texas.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmvalleyfh.com for the Avila family.
