Obituaries, April 17

HILARIA RANGEL, 79, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at McAllen Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today, Friday, April 17, 2009, at Rosa de Saron Church in La Villa. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Park in Weslaco. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Guerra Funeral Home-Elsa.

ROSA A.  PUENTES, 59,  passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. Visitation was held on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at Delta Funeral Directors. Cremation was held at Sacred Park Crematory in Weslaco.

HOMERO BUITRON III, 27, of Brownsville, passed away on April 9, 2009 in Brownsville. Funeral arrangements are pending under the direction of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

TIMOTEO GASCA JR., 39, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at Valley Regional Medical Center.  Visitations will be held today, April 17, 2009, at Guerra Funeral Home.

AURORA PEREZ HERNANDEZ, 74, passed away Monday, April 13, 2009, at her residence. She was a native of Cuero, Texas and a Brownsville resident. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. today, April 17, 2009, at Buena Vista Burial Park. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Garza Memorial Funeral Home.

BABY ISABELLA LUCIO, 6 months, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. Funeral arrangements are pending under the direction of Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista.

BABY JESUS ROBERTO RAMIREZ passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at Valley Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are pending under the direction of Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista.

CLEOTILDE CUELLAR MANZANO GRANDE

Cleotilde Cuellar Manzano Grande, 90, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. She was born July 18, 1918 to Lily Grande Manzano and Deodoro Manzano Vidal in Corpus Christi, Texas

She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt. We will all miss you very much and know you are resting in heaven with your loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Deodoro Manzano Vidal and Lily Grande Manzano; a sister, Lidia Sandoval; three brothers, Guadalupe Manzano, Deodoro Manzano, and Gilberto Manzano; and a grandson, Kenneth Paul Zammit.

Cleotilde is survived by three sons, Antonio S. Cuellar Master Sgt. USMC ret., Encarnacion Manzano Cuellar Jr. and Ramiro Cuellar Master Gunnery Sgt. USMC ret.; three daughters, Lydia Cuellar Zammit, Racquel Gravel Barthen, and Mary Lou Manzano Cuellar, who is of Brownsville; 18 granchildren, Linda Everidge, David Cuellar, Steve Cuellar, Judy Cuellar, Chuck Cuellar Master Sgt. USMC ret., Kurt Zammit, Debbie Zammit, Mark Zammit, Paul Zammit US Airforce ret., Maurice Zammit, Matthew Zammit Warrant Officer USMC ret., Erich Zammit Sgt USMC, and Edmund Zammit, Brunilda Cuellar Carlin, Edna Cuellar Carter, Xavier Cuellar, Denis Gravel Attorney at Law, and Lily Barthen Melmaed; 16 great-grandchildren all of Brownsville; 19 great-grandchildren all of Georgia; two great-grandchildren, Analise and Andrea both of Pflugerville; three great-grandchildren, Keith, Kyle, Kassie all of Brownsville; two great-grandchildren both of Hawaii; two great-grandchildren both of Chicago; and her beloved long time feline companions, Chacho, Andrew, and Baby.

Visitation will be held from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a wake at 7 p.m. today, April 17, 2009, at Garza Memorial Funeral Home chapel.

Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 18, 2009, at St. Luke's Catholic Church, 2800 Rockwell Dr., Brownsville, TX 78521. Committal service will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Dale Keith Carter II, Kyle Matthew Carter, Denis Gravel, Kurt Zammit, Erich Zammit, Maurice Zammit, Mark Zammit, and Edmund Zammit.

Honorary pallbearers will be Denny Willman and Ernest Garcia.

The family wishes to thank her family and friends for all the love, support, and kindness, along with her caregivers, Dr. Ahmad Karkoutly and Dr. Juan Martinez for providing great medical care.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mrs. Cuellar's name to the Humane Society, payable to city of Brownsville in care of Animal Care Center 416 Farm Rd. 511, Olmito, TX 78575

Arrangements are under the direction of Joe I. Treviño, Garza Memorial Funeral Home, 1025 E. Jackson St., Brownsville, TX 78520 (956) 542-5511. Additional condolences can be forwarded to 976 Grey Fox Circle, Brownsville, TX 78520 or ecarter@compasslearning.com.

RAUL RAMIREZ

Raul Ramirez, 88, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. He had been a Brownsville resident for numerous years.

He is survived by his sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

No local services were held. Funeral services were held at Funerarias San Joaquin in Matamoros. Burial will be held today, Friday, April 17, 2009, at Ejido La Bartolina.

Local arrangements were under the direction of Delta Funeral Directors, 1300 E. Harrison St., (956) 542-2222.

ROBERT E. AZIZ SR.

Robert E. Aziz Sr., 80, passed on to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at Solara Hospital in Brownsville, Texas.

Born to George and Lillian Aziz on Jan. 11, 1929, Bob was a lifetime resident of Brownsville where he attended St. Joseph's Academy. He graduated Salutatorian of his high school class in 1945. After this he went on to receive his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame in 1949.

Upon graduating, he entered the family business of Aziz Brothers Department Store in downtown Brownsville where he remained for over 40 years as manager, president and owner until its closing in 1993.

In the 1950s, Bob served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. In 1964, he married his Irish born wife, Mary Eileen (O'Brien) Aziz, at St. Patrick's Church in Corpus Christi; together they had four children.

Bob was active in community work for all his life, serving in many volunteer capacities and elected offices. An avid Lion (downtown), he helped raise money with many comic performances in the theatrical productions of the Lion's Club in the 60s and 70s. He supported the United Way drives and was an active volunteer in the founding of St. Mary's Church. He supported and coached the Brownsville Boy's Club and was Scout Master for many years. In all ways Bob loved Brownsville. He will be remembered by all for his perpetual smile and his great kindness toward others.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his three grandchildren, Mary Kristin, Anna and Theresa Galle and his son-in-law, Gary Galle.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary Eileen Aziz; his sons, Bobby and wife, Denise, Patrick and wife, Julie of Austin, Kevin of Brownsville, his daughter, Catherine of San Antonio, six grandchildren, Stephanie and Elizabeth Galle, Noah, Logan, Kaleb and Jeremiah Aziz, his brother, Father George K. Aziz, SJ of California, his sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Sam Pate of Brownsville, nephew, Mike Pate, niece, Susan Dobrolski, as well as two great-nephews and a cousin, Gladys Rizk, formerly of Brownsville.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Carmen Gonzalez for her loving care and dedication to Bob during his last months of life. They also extend their many thanks to Dr. Karkoulty and the nurses at Solara Hospital for their tireless work and concern.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday, April 17, 2009, in the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

Mass of Resurrection will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, April 18, at St. Mary's Catholic Church with burial to follow to Buena Vista Burial Park.

Pallbearers will be Bobby, Kevin, Patrick Aziz, Mike Pate, Joseph Graham and Catherine Galle.

Honorary pallbearers will be Father George Aziz, Herb Ames, Michael Meaney and Sam Pate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in remembrance of Robert E. Aziz Sr. to St. Joseph Academy, 101 Saint Joe Dr., Brownsville, TX 78520.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, Texas 78520 (956) 546-7111.

TOMAS CURIEL

Tomas Curiel, 79, entered into eternal life on April 15, 2009 at Valley Regional Medical Center-Brownsville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tomas Curiel Sr. and Melchora Aguirre De Curiel; his daughter, Julia Curiel; sisters, Ofelia Curiel Gonzalez, Raquel Curiel De Garza and Maria De Los Angeles Curiel De Hernandez; brothers, Emilio Curiel, Guadalupe Curiel and Alfonso Curiel.

He is survived by his wife, Yolanda G. Curiel; a son, Jorge Curiel (Marisela); a daughter, Yolanda Bella (Raul); five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Herminio Curiel; several nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at Trevino Funeral Home South Chapel.

Funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. today, Friday, April 17, 2009, at Templo Ebenezer, 4294 Southmost Road, officiated by Rev. Roberto Hernandez. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Raul Bella, Gustavo Gallegos III, Hector Gallegos, Chris Hatzoglou, Ismael Canada Jr., and George Edward Curiel.

You may send your condolences to the Curiel family online at www.trevinofuneral.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Trevino Funeral Home, 1355 Old Port Isabel Road, Brownsville, Texas 78521, (956) 542-2583.