Evarista "Eva" Gorena

EVARISTA "EVA" GORENA







Evarista "Eva" Gorena passed away peacefully in her home at sunset on March 25, 2016, surrounded by family and loved ones. She was a lifelong resident of the Valley, born on Aug. 23, 1930 in Heidelburg to Felix & Josefina Garcia.

Eva is preceded in death by her three brothers, Felix Jr., Jose, and twin brother Alberto, as well as three sisters, Otila, Josefina, and Maria Amelia. She is survived by her sister Gregoria (Garcia) Gonzalez of San Antonio.

Eva was married for 48 years to Anibal I. Gorena, Sr., until he passed in May of 2005. She is survived by the three sons they raised and their spouses, Anibal Jr. & Belinda of Edinburg, Roy & Vanessa of Clayton, NC, and Louie & Tanya of San Antonio. Eva enjoyed the loving company of 9 grandchildren: Rebecca Carin of Austin, Victoria Celest, Miranda Isabel, and Liana Evalysse of Edinburg; Juliana Carol and Elena Marie of Clayton; and Gabriel Luis, Olivia Renee, and Angelina Nicole of San Antonio.

Eva's passion was the fellowship and ministry of which she was part at El Buen Pastor UMC, where she participated for many years in United Methodist Women's Group and formed her most cherished and long-lasting friendships.

Eva graduated from Mercedes High School in 1948 and attended Pan American College. She earned her certificate as a Teacher's Assistant in Houston and worked early in her career in the Headstart program, and then for many years as Executive Secretary to the Director of Region I Educational Service Center. Eva grew up in Heidelburg outside of Mercedes, where she and her siblings helped with daily chores and worked to support the household. Eva's mother taught her to crochet, a skill she enjoyed the rest of her life. Eva was dearly loved by a large number of family and friends and will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., with a 7 p.m. prayer service Monday, March 28, 2016, at El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church in Edinburg. Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church in Edinburg. Interment will follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen.

Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.