Viola Salinas Garza

Loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Viola Garza, 82, of Victoria passed away on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 after a short illness. She was born May 28, 1928 in Charco, Texas to the late Juan and Alejandra Garcia Salinas.

Mrs. Garza was a homemaker and a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Garza was preceded in death by her husband, Joe P. Garza; four sisters and three brothers.

Survivors include her daughters: Hilda Velasquez of Victoria, Mary Frances Garza of Austin, Mary Magdalane Limon of Denver, Colorado. Her sons: Jimmie C. Garza of Tucson, Arizona; Joe O. Garza of Humble, Joaquin R. Garza of Victoria, Jaime S. Garza of San Antonio. She had numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A rosary will be recited on Friday, July 16, 2010 at 7 PM at Rosewood Funeral Chapel. The funeral mass will be 9 AM on Saturday, July 17, 2010 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. Graveside services will be conducted at 11 AM at La Bahia Cemetery in Goliad.

Pallbearers will be all of Mrs. Garza’s grandsons Joshua Garza, Juan Velasquez, Jake Garza, A. J. Garza, Jerric Limon, Justus Garza, James Garza, Jeffery Garza, Jaime Garza and Joe Garza.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com

Tribute and Poem to Mom From Her Son Jimmie:

Our mother comes from a time very different from ours today. She was born in 1928 into an impoverished farming family that endured much adversity throughout their lives. Those were hard years. Years of many wants and many needs. In her youth she labored in the fields under the hot Texas sun. She picked cotton, hoed weeds, shucked corn, pulled broom-corn and stacked hay. I could go on but those terms probably sound foreign to many of us here especially in today’s electronic era. When she married and became a young mother, she continued to labor in the fields alongside our father. To her a better life must have been but an unattainable dream.

Yes, her life was a difficult one, but not one void of happiness. As a family we never associated happiness with material possessions, simply because we didn’t have anything. Happiness was found in the small simple things that she would do for us. Like in the times she would make us hot chocolate on cold days. Milk and sugar candy treats. The occasional trip she would make to the store to treat us to a hamburger and coke. My sisters especially found it in the fun and adventurous trips she would take with them across our country. For me, I can still see the old pickup truck kicking up a trail of dust as she drove to where we worked in the fields to bring nourishment and a much needed respite. She was always there bringing ice water on hot days and hot coffee on cold ones.

Throughout our lives, we’ve enjoyed a strong bond with our mom. All mothers love their children, but with her it transcended. She was special. She was a person of character, strength and dignity. She never shunned responsibility, and in her own quiet and solemn way dealt with life’s trials and tribulations of which there were many. Some of which I know would bring distress to many of us here. We all grew up and left and when we would come home to visit she would welcome us with open arms, a kiss on the cheek and treat us to her traditional Mexican meals. She was always there drawing the family close, always concerned about our welfare. She was our sounding board, our emotional support, and our moral compass. She was a beacon that illuminated our path back to her. On weekends, mom and I would frequently talk on the phone. She would always end our conversations with, “I love you.”

She gave us life and raised us with uncompromising love. She demonstrated her love in ways that only a caring mother can. We mourn her loss and will miss her dearly. But, we can take comfort in knowing that in her life and in her passing she knew that we loved her. And above all else, to her this acknowledgment of love was all that mattered. She was the last of her siblings – the last of that generation. Mom is now home in the heavens where there is no pain, sadness nor sorrow. She is now free. Let us celebrate her life and let us commend to the All Mighty the soul of a faithful servant – our mother Viola Salinas Garza.

DO NOT STAND BY MY GRAVE AND WEEP

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glint on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,

I am the swift, uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there, I do not sleep.

Jimmie Garza

Tribute and Poem to Mom from Hilda

My Mom was 18 years old when she got married. She had 7 children--Hilda, Jimmie, Joe Jr, Joaquin, the twins Mary Frances and Mary Magdalane, and Jaime. She became a widow when she was 44 years old. She never remarried.

While she was married she worked alongside all the kids and her husband,Joe, on a farm raising farm animals and planting crops. It was a very hard life for everyone in the family. My dad stressed that we all work hard on the farm and in school. There were no birthdays, holidays, or weekends celebrated.

All of us kids continued our hard work at the farm and graduated from high school. For my Mom that was a great accomplishment since she never made it out of grade school.

My Mom was an inspiration and wanted a good life for us, but after Dad died that was something she could not forsee. She worked in cafeterias, restaurants, people's homes and also caring for other people's children to pay the bills.

My Mom had a warm smile and was always polite. She never had a bad thing to say about anyone. She was always kind and wanted to share what little she had with others.

My Dad only got to know one grandchild, Juan Velasquez, my son. My Mom got know 20 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She got to go to our graduations and weddings. She loved her grandkids and great grandkids.

Mom never got to travel when she was on the farm, so later my sister Mary Frances and I were able to take her with us on our trips. She loved it. She went on a cruise and also traveled to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Cancun and to the Rocky Mountains. She had never been more than a 100 mile radius from home until she traveled with us. She loved every minute of it. She was never happier than when we three girls were together. We had so much fun!

My Mom's life was hard, but I know she had so much pride and happiness when she was around her family. She loved her sisters and brothers. They are all gone now. Mom was still the baby of the family at 82 years old. I know she is looking down at all of us gathered here, and she is even happier because all of her family, her nieces and nephews, and friends are here to celebrate her life. We want to thank you for sharing this moment with her. Hilda

The Watcher by Margaret Widdemer

She always leaned to watch for us,

Anxious if we were late

In winter by the window,

In summer by the gate.

And though we mocked her tenderly,

Who had such foolish care,

The long way home would seem more safe

Because she waited there.

Her thoughts were all so full of us,

She never could forget!

And so I think that where she is

She must be watching yet.

Waiting till we come home to her,

Anxious if we are late,

Watching from Heaven's window,

Leaning on Heavens gate.

Tribute to Grandma by Juan Velasquez

This beautiful,loving, giving person drifted out of our lives, but she will live through our hearts, our smiles and our love for each other.It was a gift and an honor just to know her, to see her smile, hear her laugh and hear her say "I love you"and I know she meant every word. Her heart is a rose that will never pass.God wanted her with Him like we wanted her with us. It says so much to know what a beautiful wonderful person and angel she is.God created her filled with love and a smile and that will never change.