Janie was an exceptional, God fearing woman, to her children, she was the Duchess. She was a cancer survivor and she had an unwavering faith in the Lord and possessed a true servant’s heart. Janie faithfully loved and cared for her family and friends. She was strong in the Lord and was the heart of her family. Janie along with her beloved husband Reynaldo (Ray) shaped their children’s faith by their tireless Christian example. Janie truly lived for the Lord and her family. She loved to sew, cook, and bake. Everyone eagerly awaited her empanadas she was so famous for! Janie not only was blessed with her wonderful family; but also, with the extraordinary family the Lord blessed her with when she married her soulmate Ray. They were ALL family, her brothers, her sisters, nieces, nephews, and the list goes on and on. Her family is ONE. Throughout her beautiful life she maintained a sweet and simple demeanor that won the respect, heart and trust of the many who had the blessing of knowing her, many who even now, are being changed by her witness of constant nurturing, love, faith and joy.
Janie is preceded in death by her beloved husband Ray Madrigal Cervantes, her parents, Brigido Ramos and Adela Diaz Ramos, her sister Maria Elena Balderas (Judge Robert Balderas+), her brother Jessie Diaz Ramos, her sister Benita Gomez (Juan+), and her nephew Tim Rodriguez Jr.
She is survived by her children, Roxanna (Montgomery) Holmes, and Reynaldo Cervantes Jr.; her grandchildren, Catherine Holmes and Iliana Holmes all of Corpus Christi, Texas; her siblings Elia Rodriguez (Timo +), Rudy Ramos (MaryLou), and Brigido Ramos Jr. (Maria), her sister in law Rosie L Ramos, married to her brother Jessie, her sister in law Maria, married to her brother Brigido Jr. On Ray’s side, her brother in law, Rene Cervantes (Amelia), who her children call Papa Rene, Aurora (Daniel+) Moya, Maria (Andrew +) Vera, Elida (Jesse) Sanchez, Elva Merino, Christina (Stan) Sells, and numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
Janie always had enough love to go around, whether to Pops, family or even her pets whom she considered her children; Roxanna and Ray were their sister and brother. In celebrating Janie’s life, we do not grieve like others may grieve, who have no hope, because God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep with him (1 Thes. 4:13-14). Janie’s family can look forward to the day of being reunited with her and all those who have gone before, and receive another one of her sweet, warm smiles and hugs and of course her empanadas!
