Leah R. Cantu

LEAH R. CANTU SAN JUAN – Leah R. Cantu, 77, died Thursday, October 2, 2014, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen. Born in Agua Nueva, Texas, she had lived in San Juan most of her life and was an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish. She was a loving mother and grandmother, a dear friend, who loved animals, especially her dogs and cats. While in high school, she was in FFA and played the clarinet in the school band, she loved music. Leah was employed by P-SJ-A ISD for 22 years until her retirement in 2007. She cherished her retirement years, enjoying time with her children, friends and family. She is preceded in death by her husband, Gonzalo “Max” Cantu; her parents, Florencio Cruz Ramirez and Cesaria Galvan Ramirez; a sister, Luisa Rosa Garza; and a brother, Florencio Cruz Ramirez, Jr. Mrs. Cantu is survived by four children, Maritza C. (Mario) Ramirez, of San Antonio, Esther C. (Jose) Sanchez of McAllen, Max O. Cantu and Mario A. Cantu, both of San Juan; 11 grandchildren, Diandra, Max Jr., Marco, Michael, Laura, Zoe, Robert, Victoria, Mario Jr., Miranda, Gavin; and one great-granddaughter, Madeleine. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary Sunday, October 5, 2014, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Monday, October 6, 2014, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish in San Juan. Interment will follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen. Pallbearers will be Max O. Cantu Jr., Marco Antonio Cantu, Michael Alonso Ramirez, Nicolas Garza, Jorge Garza and Florencio Cruz Ramirez III. Honorary pallbearers will be Roberto Esteban Ramirez, Mario Alberto Cantu Jr. and Gavin Nathaniel Cantu. Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.