Stella A. Garza

EDINBURG — Stella A. Garza, 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, October 25, 2015. Stella was born on April 23, 1924 in Edinburg, TX to Estella Schunior Alamia and Joe V. Alamia. She is preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Adalberto (Sonny); and a granddaughter, Kelly Garza. Left to cherish her memory are her four children, A.J. (Jan) Garza of Houston, Gilbert (Marissa) Garza of San Antonio, David (Ada) Garza of Edinburg, Frances Garza of Houston; two sisters, Lucile (Congressman Kika) de la Garza of McAllen and Amelia (Paul) Walsh of Lewisville; her beloved grandchildren, Erica and Seve Garza of Houston, Lauren (Blake) Newman of Ireland, Katie (Chris) Segura and Jacob Garza of San Antonio, J.D. and Laura Garza (fiancé Cameron Rashcke) of Edinburg; four great-grandchildren, Alexa, Elizabeth and Christopher Segura, and Harper Newman; and several nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved. After graduating from Edinburg High School in 1942, she went on to Nursing School at McAllen Municipal Hospital and graduated as a registered nurse in 1945. This was the last nursing class held in the Rio Grande Valley. She began her career working at McAllen Hospital, then working at Edinburg Hospital as a night shift supervisory nurse. In September 1949, the first year the school nurse program began, she moved on to become a school nurse with the La Joya School District. As fate would have it, there she met the love of her life Adalberto (Sonny) Garza, who had become an assistant football coach, as well as a baseball coach for the La Joya Coyotes after returning from WWII. She married Sonny on November 23, 1950 and they became proud parents of four children. In 1954 they relocated and commenced working for the Edinburg School District. After affectionately serving the students at the Edinburg School District for 30 years, she retired in 1985. Soon after retiring, she felt a commitment to continue to serve her community and help others in need, she wanted to do more in her life. Her love was always serving others, so she immediately began a new chapter in her life, working diligently as a visiting nurse, providing home health care to seniors and home bound patients tirelessly travelling between the Eastern and Western parts of Hidalgo County. Texas Visiting Nurse Service employed Stella for 14 years and in 1996 she earned the well-deserved Employee of the Year Award. On August 31, 1999 she retired again to rest and enjoy life and continued standing ready to serve others in need by giving unselfishly. She was always giving to those less fortunate than her. Stella’s greatest love was her family and will be greatly missed by them as well as her friends and those who knew her. Stella leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, wisdom, compassion and a sense of peace. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, J.D. Garza, Jacob Garza and Seve Garza, and her nephews, Dr. Jorge de la Garza, Sam Gorena and Philip Farias. Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary today, October 27, 2015, at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton in Edinburg. Funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 122 W. Fay in Edinburg. Interment will follow at Valley Memorial Gardens, 3605 N. Taylor Rd. in McAllen. Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.