Daniel Anthony Viera

It is with sadness and joy that we grieve the passing of our friend and brother in Christ, Daniel Anthony Viera (aka Danny). He went peacefully into the arms of our Lord in McAllen, Texas on Saturday, November 27, 2021. He is finally resting after an almost 30 year battle with Multiple Sclerosis.

Danny was born on March 26, 1971 to Esteban Viera, Jr. and Gloria Gonzales. He was born 5 minutes behind his identical twin brother Samuel Anthony Viera. He was super proud of being a twin!

Music was always the center of Dannys life. He spent 8th to 12th grade playing trombone and marching in the Southwest High School Dragon Band. The highlight of his high school years was leading the Dragon Band as Drum Major with Sammy. Danny and Sammy were inseparable their entire lives. That is until college when Danny went to Texas A & M to follow his dream of marching with the Fightin Texas Aggie Band. After two years at A & M, he transferred to Sam Houston State University to pursue a degree in music. Did we mention that his twin brother Sammy and his lifelong best friend David Herrera were also studying music at SHSU? The 3 amigos reunite! Danny marched with and led the SHSU Bearkat Marching Band as Drum Major in 1993. In between being in marching band, working towards a degree and playing in jazz, orchestra and wind ensembles at SHSU, he spent the summer of 1992 marching with the world champion Drum & Bugle Corps Phantom Regiment.

He graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Music from SHSU and began his career in music education as a band director in Houston and then Laredo. The majority of his teaching career was spent teaching elementary music at Jessie L. Jensen Elementary in Sharyland ISD in Mission, Texas. He led several musical productions of The Nutcracker, coached UIL teams in music and forged many close friendships during his years at Jensen. He earned a Masters Degree in Education in 2005. Fostering a love of music in children meant a lot to him. His love of music was definitely passed down to his children Joshua and Serenity. Joshua played trombone just like his dad and Serenity plays trumpet and is pursuing a degree in Music Therapy.

In 2012 he married his wife Maricela in Mission, Texas where they spent the last 9 years building their lives together. He was most proud of his two children Joshua Samuel and Serenity Nicole Viera and his two step-children Natalie and Nathaniel Villegas. He inspired them to work hard, to keep moving forward and never look back, and to do their best always.

Danny is preceded in death by his 3 sets of grandparents, Andrea and Arturo Flores, Juanita and Esteban Viera, Sr., and Inez and Roman Gonzales, Sr.

We thank you Danny for a life well-liveda life making music, a life spent pouring love into those around you, and a life in service to our Lord. Your genuine smile, gentle spirit and ability to inspire will be missed by many, especially your wife Maricela Salazar-Viera, your children Joshua Samuel and Serenity Nicole Viera and step-children Natalie and Nathaniel Villegas, your mom Delia and dad Steve Viera, Jr., brothers Steve III (Laura), Samuel (Cheryl), David (Veronica), Dennis (Tanya), nieces Jaclyn OConnor (Alyk), Kaitlyn Moreno, Andrea Villanueva, and Alexandra Viera, nephews Diego Villanueva, Justin Michael and Jacob Steven (Meghan) Viera, lifelong best friend David Michael (Sheila) Herrera and countless aunts, uncles, cousins and friends you made along your earthly adventure.

We will hold you in our hearts always!

In a spirit of celebration of Dannys love of Texas A & M, the family invites guests to wear Aggie shirts or the color maroon to the visitation/rosary.

Click here to view the recorded service.