Manuel "Meme" T. Barrera Jr., 80, passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2009. He was a native and lifelong resident of Brownsville, Texas.

Meme graduated from Brownsville High School in 1948, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force which led him to his love of flying and a career in aviation. He was certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration as a Pilot Examiner and Accident Prevention Counselor.

Meme was Chief Instructor and Chief Pilot for Hunt Pan Am Distributors and was a director of flight operations for Pan American Aeronautical Center Inc. in Brownsville, Texas.

He was very proud of his involvement in the training and instruction of many pilots in South Texas.

Meme was preceded in death by his loving parents, Ygnacia and Manuel T. Barrera Sr. and his second wife, Eulalia C. Barrera.

He is survived by his five children of his first wife, Alma Briseño Barrera: Manuel T. (Kathryn) Barrera III, Olga R. (Dennis) Barrera, Cecilia C. (Ralph) Rangel, Noe C. Barrera and Maria de Lourdes Barrera-Jaross; four grandchildren, Lindsay Barrera, and Julia, Ashley, and Sidney Jaross.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Manuel T. Barrera III, Noe C. Barrera, Dr. Elias Villarreal Jr., Honorable Bernabe Q. Maldonado, Dr. Ernesto S. Davila and Ralph R. Rangel.

Honorary pallbearers will be his Hunt Pan Am co-workers.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m., with the holy rosary to be recited at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 7, 2009, at Garza Memorial Funeral Home.

Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 8, 2009, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. Military Honors and burial will be held 2 p.m. at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery, 2520 South Inspiration Road, Mission, Texas.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Joe I. Trevino, Garza Memorial Funeral Home, 1025 E. Jackson St. (956) 542-5511.

 

HENRY G. KRAUSSE JR.

Henry G. "Hank" Krausse Jr., born Oct. 6, 1923, passed away May 2, 2009, at age 85.

He was a native of Brownsville and son of the late Henry G. and Otila Crixell Krausse. He graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in 1939, attended St. Mary's University in San Antonio and received his B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin. The U.S. Army assigned him to the Japanese Language School at the University of Michigan and Fort Snelling, Minnesota, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant and served in the military intelligence branch in the Army of Occupation of Japan.

His diary describes his falling in love with Japan from the moment he arrived in 1946, first trying out his knowledge of the language when swarmed by kids in villages ("It gave us great satisfaction to be able to converse with them ... All in all I'm thrilled with the country.") and noting its beauty and wartime destruction, including Hiroshima, which had "miles of flat rubble ... Really one of the saddest sights I've ever seen."

He joined the U.S. Foreign Service (State Department) in 1947 and, returning to Japan in the early 1950s, met Rita Evelyn Boch of Cumberland, Md., a secretary at the U.S. consulate in Nagoya. They were married in 1953 in Veracruz, Mexico. Besides Japan, he served in Aruba, Mexico, Argentina, Washington, D.C., the Philippines, El Salvador and Brazil. As he and Rita raised five kids, he played the violin, enjoyed carpentry and loved a good round of golf - especially in the Philippines, where he lost an occasional ball to cobras in the rough.

Retiring in Brownsville in 1973, he was for several years an IRS Taxpayer Service Representative and later a volunteer with the agency's VITA Program.

For years, Dad worked with local activists - who came to include Rita - who greatly expanded scholarship and popular interest in local history. He served on the boards of the Brownsville Historical Association, the Cameron County Historical Commission and the Historic Brownsville Museum Association.

He was active in the Kiwanis Club of Brownsville, the Serra Club, which promotes Catholic vocations, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Camille Lightner Playhouse and SCORE. He delighted in helping organize an Elderhostel tour of Brownsville in the 1990s.

He was a longtime and active member of St. Mary's Parish.

He was preceded in death by Rita, his wife of almost 52 years. He is survived by his daughters, Maria T. "Terry" Krausse of San Antonio, Monica A. Krausse (Robert Ray Roberts) of El Paso, Margaret H. (Frank) Trevino of Houston, and sons Henry G. Krausse III of San Antonio and John J. Krausse of Brownsville, as well as a grandson, Henry G. "Gus" Krausse, a brother-in-law, two sisters-in-law, three nieces and two nephews.

The family would like to thank the caring staff of Alamo Hospice and Barton House in San Antonio for the wonderful care they gave Dad. Memorial contributions may be made to the Historic Brownsville Museum, the Brownsville Historical Association, the Alzheimer's Association or any charity of your choice.

Visitation will be from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Darling Mouser Funeral Home, with a rosary to be recited at 7 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2009, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with burial to follow at Buena Vista Burial Park.

Pallbearers will be Henry G. Krausse III, John J. Krausse, Frank Trevino, John Champion, Ben Neece and Robert Vezzetti.

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

 

 

Arturo Bodden, 73, of Brownsville, entered into eternal rest on May 5, 2009 at Valley Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Bodden was a lifetime shrimper and was the owner of Bodden Trawlers. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Claire Bodden and three sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Maria Elena Bodden; two daughters, Veronica Cavazos and Elizabeth Bodden Patterson; a son, Arturo Agustin Bodden; a granddaughter, Ana Maria Cavazos; three brothers, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 8, at 6 p.m., with a Celebration of Life to begin at 7 p.m., in the chapel of Darling-Mouser. All services will conclude on Friday evening.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

You may sign the guest book and send your condolences to the Bodden family online at www.darlingmouser.com

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

 

 

Ursula M. Camacho, 72, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at Valley Regional Medical Center.

She was a beautiful soul who was loved by her family and friends. Always causing laughter and joy to everyone around her. She will always be in our hearts and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cruz Camacho; parents, Bartolo and Octavia Mireles; children, Cruz and Sylvia Camacho; and a great-grandchild, Logan Mireles.

She is survived by her sons, Oscar (Eloisa) Mireles and Martin (Sara) Camacho of Edinburg; daughters, Eva (Juan) Hernandez and Alvina Camacho; sisters, Maria Cadena and Dominga Garcia of California, Celia Torres and Graciela Castillo; brothers, Jose Mireles, Benito Mireles, and Frank Mireles of California; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with recitation of the holy rosary at 7 p.m. today, Thursday, May 7, 2009, at Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista.

A chapel service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2009, at Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista. Committal service will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista, cemeteries, mausoleums, and crematory, 125 McDavitt Blvd. Brownsville, TX. 78521, (956) 541-5400. Dignity Memorial Provider.

 

 

Josefina L. Velasquez, 81, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday May 5, 2009 at Valley Regional Medical Center.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Fidel S. Velasquez, on November 1992 and a son, Paulino Velasquez.

She is survived by her sons and daughters, Juana Guerrero, Julia Ochoa, Jose J. Velasquez, Fidel S. Velasquez, Maria D. Velasquez, Josefina Villegas, Jesus Velasquez, Gregoria Rubio, Rodolfo Velasquez, and Guadalupe Velasquez; 21 great-grandchildren; 41 great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Sixto Luna; and a sister, Maria Acosta.

Recitation of the holy rosary will be held at 7 p.m. today, Thursday, May 7, 2009, at the Delta Funeral Directors Chapel.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, May 8, 2009, at San Felipe De Jesus Catholic Church, officiated by Father Hector Cruz. Interment will follow to Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

Delta Funeral Directors, 1300 E. Harrison St., (956) 542-2222, is in charge of all funeral arrangements.

 

 

Blasa Valdez Zaldivar, 77, of Laguna Heights, Texas passed away to be with the Lord on Monday, May 4, 2009, at Solara Hospital in Brownsville, Texas.

She was a lifetime resident of Port Isabel and a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Port Isabel. She retired from Port Isabel ISD as a cafeteria cook after 25 years of employment.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Cruz and Carmen Valdez; a son, Guadalupe L. Hernandez; two infant twin daughters, Maria and Maria Zaldivar; three brothers, Cruz Valdez Jr., Epifanio Valdez, and Guadalupe Valdez; and two sisters, Antonia Valdez Martinez and Genoveva Valdez.

She is survived by her husband, Clodio A. Zaldivar; and her seven children, Juanita (Robert) Healy of Tampa, Fla., Jose A. Zaldivar of Tulsan, Ariz., Diane Zaldivar Buentello of Brownsville, Texas, Marco A. (Janet) Zaldivar of Pasadena, Texas, Alejandro I. Zaldivar of Houston, Texas, George A. (Pamela) Zaldivar of Swansea, Ill., and Norma T. Zaldivar of North Carolina. She is also survived by 25 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Visitation will be held Thursday, May 7, 2009, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito and will continue from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the recitation of the holy rosary at 7 p.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 705 S. Longoria St. in Port Isabel.

The Mass of Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 8, 2009, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Burial will follow to the Port Isabel City Cemetery.

Words of comfort can be sent to the Blasa V. Zaldivar Family at www.thomaegarza.com

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Home, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas 78586 (956) 399-1331.

 

 

Juan Heriberto Benitez, 46, entered into eternal rest with the Lord on Monday, May 4, 2009, at Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving family wife, Reyna Oralia Benitez; a son, Heriberto Benitez; a daughter, Reyna Oralia Benitez (Daniel Ernesto Davila); a grandson, Daniel Ernesto Davial Jr.; parents, Enrique Benitez and Dora Vasquez de Benitez; a brother, Enrique Benitez; sisters, Ana Isabel Benitez, Irma Benitez, Adriana Isela Benitez, Claudia Lorena Benitez, Karla Melissa Benitez and Monica Rosio Benitez; parents-in-law, Antonio Rios and Oralia Rios.

Visitations were held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with recitation of the holy rosary at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at Guerra Funeral Home "Chapel of the Holy Family."

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. today, Thursday, May 7, 2009, at  Good Shepherd  Catholic Church, 2645 Tulipan St.  Interment will follow at Guillen Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Guerra Funeral Home of Brownsville, 3955 Coffee Port Rd., (956) 544-1171.

 

 

JUAN HERIBERTO BENITEZ

 

BLASA VALDEZ ZALDIVAR

 

JOSEFINA L. VELASQUEZ

 

URSULA M. CAMACHO

 

ARTURO BODDEN

 

MANUEL "MEME" T. BERRERA JR.