Maria C Cantu Garza

Maria Cantu Garza has rejoined the Lord in Heaven. She died peacefully in her daughter’s arms at about 6:15pm on Thursday, March 28, 2013 in Houston, Texas. She was 102. Maria Cantu was born on July 20, 1910 in San Antonio as the youngest of 10 siblings. Her older brother Manuel Cantu would often sneak Maria on the back of his horse so that she could attend school. She made it through the second grade. She began working at an innovative new kind of clothing company, one that made ready-to-wear clothes that were for children and ladies; the Juvenile Manufacturing Company, which became known as Santone Industries in 1923. With her small hands, she was very good at working with the small buttons needed on the children’s clothes. She worked there all through her adolescence and into her early-twenties. In 1927, San Antonians named her the queen of Fiesta Patrias with 15,000 votes; her nearest rival got 10,000. Although she was doted on as the baby in the family, and even after winning the Queen of Fiesta Patrias at age 17, she remained a humble and modest woman. Maria Cantu became a pioneer as a member of the “first” creation of an organized effort of Catholic women to serve as the key volunteer arm to the Development & Community Programs of the St Therese Little Flower Basilica. She was a founding Daughter of the Society of St Therese. Their mission was to lead by example by emulating the benevolent spirit of St Therese through the promotion of fellowship and service to meet the needs of the community. Although she left the Daughters after her marriage, it is evident that she continued with their philosophy all her life. Since great deeds were forbidden to St Therese, she spread little flowers to show her love. Maria Cantu Garza proved her love through her every “sacrifice, every grace and word, and the doing of least actions.”

Carmen Cantu Garza was away from his family ranches in South Texas attending booking-keeping school in San Antonio. On one of his visits to his Tia Simona Garcia, he noticed a picture of the beautiful Maria Cantu in the parlor, and declared on the spot: “This is the woman I will marry.” Tia Simona arranged a dinner at her home where she introduced Maria and Carmen formally. Immediately thereafter, Maria’s sister, Julia and her husband, Octaviano Garza, asked Maria Cantu and Carmen Garza to the be the godparents of their new son Roy Garza. The courtship then began in earnest.

There were married on April 4, 1937 in the St Therese Basilica. There is an endearing story of Carmen Gaza, who with a great sense of humor, decided that the length of the basilica was just too long. Wanting to leave the church with utmost haste with his new bride, he began “galloping” down the aisle, after the marriage was completed.

Carmen and Maria Garza moved to Raymondville, Texas to begin working on her husband’s ranch. They farmed and raised livestock including cattle. She helped by watching the cotton pickers and by driving the trucks and tractors. She would check the cotton pickers to make sure they didn't put watermelons in the sacks to make them heavier.

Maria and Carmen had a son, Carmen Carlos Garza, Jr. on August 4, 1938; and then a daughter, Maria Cimodocia Garza on August 6, 1941. In an instance of leading by example, Maria and Carmen took in orphans and were guardians to at least three. Once their children reached school age, the family moved to Edinburg for the duration of the time they were both in school. Maria and Carmen gave generously to their church, donated the first bale of cotton to the parish school their children attended and also donated 2 calves to churches to be raffled off each year.

Maria Garza's daughter, Maria “Cimo” Garza, said her mother was a good shooter. One night, Carmen and his friends were unsuccessful in shooting beer cans off a ledge. Carmen asked his wife if she could do it. “My mom grabbed a gun and shot a bird's head off,” the daughter said. “My dad said, ‘Now you know why I've never cheated on her.'”

Maria Garza was also a civic leader in her own right. She and about 20 neighbors all petitioned the Judge in Willacy County in 1942 to create the very first Water Conservation District in Willacy County. They all donated land to get the project started. It was approved.

Passionate about women's rights and education, Garza started a women's club at her church and told members that everyone should have an education.

Maria and Carmen Garza were Padrino and Madrina to over 90 couples. It is unknown how many times over she was a Godmother. There are very few families in Raymondville and the surrounding areas and ranches who were not touched by her prayers and kind words. She remembered everyone in her prayers, and in return, she had an army praying for her.

She was tough but generous to the downtrodden. She often woke at 3am to knocks on her windows from migrant workers who hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for three days. She would begin cooking them a hot meal with coffee. She often did this while her husband was off on cattle drives. The woman was fearless. But she walked with the confidence of one who was blessed by God, and felt that as long as she was spreading God’s love, he would protect her.

When her husband became ill in the 1970’s, she began running the ranches on her own; all while cooking, cleaning and caring for her husband. When Carmen felt well enough, they would get all dressed up and go with their good friends to go dancing at a local dance hall. Maria loved music and loved to dance. She would take every opportunity to dance throughout her life.

Her first grandson, Carlos Lino Garza arrived in 1967; a granddaughter, Laurie Suzanne Garza in 1969, another grandson, Victor Lino Leal in 1972, and another grandson Patrick John Mies, II in 1978. She also has three great-grandchildren Juliet, 14, Chase 11, and Jet, 4; and has more nieces and nephews that we can possibly list.

After Carmen Garza died on March 2, 1981, her son came to live with her at the ranch. After 70 years of toil, she made a few trips with her niece, Olivia Benevides and walked the Great Wall of China. In 1984, she accompanied her granddaughter through Germany and Italy and even met Pope John Paul II.

In 2004, she moved to Houston to be with her daughter, Maria Cimodocia Garza, who kept her active and healthy throughout her remaining years. The family and friends would like to express their appreciation and thanks to Maria Cimodocia for her devotion and care of Maria Cantu Garza.

The family would like to thank the outstanding and compassionate care provide by everyone at Heartland Rehab Center in Houston.

Maria Cantu Garza would like to thank all of you, her friends and family, for all the little things you ever did for her to help her on her journey. She remembers every kindness each of you ever bestowed.

Services for Maria Cantu Garza are scheduled as follows:

Thursday, April 4

7 pm Rosary at Good Shepherd Funeral Home in Raymondville

Friday, April 5

10 am Funeral Mass with Bishop Alonso Davila

11am Burial at the Raymondville Cemetery