Gloria Loya

Gloria was born in Harlingen, TX on November 27, 1959, to José and Dominga Villaseñor. She grew up helping her parents and siblings at the family panaderia, the La Féria Bakery. She married her high school sweetheart, Jose Israel Loya, Jr (Joe), in 1975. After he joined the military, they moved away from their hometown in 1979.

While away, Gloria worked in daycare and soon opened and operated her in-home daycare. After retirement, they returned to La Féria in 1995.

Gloria was actively involved in her community. She was a La Féria ISD school board trustee for 9 years and served on several other committees. A devout Catholic, Gloria was honored to be a catechism teacher, Eucharist minister, lector, a member of the Schoenstatt Mothers Group, and highly involved in the ACTS community at St. Francis Xavier. She also enjoyed collaborating with local churches to help prepare and host the annual Thanksgiving Feast of Sharing.

Gloria worked at Lone Star Shredding and Document Storage for over 13 years. She created everlasting bonds and was fondly known as “Mama G.” She most enjoyed Saturday morning coffee with her mother and family, shopping, sparkling, and spending time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her three daughters Leticia Loya, Anna Lisa Loya, and Laura (Steve) Alvarez; siblings Sylvia (Charlie) Jupe, José Villaseñor Jr., and Patricia (Todd) Villaseñor-Sandell; grandchildren Brandon, Vincent, and Elyse; and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband Joe; son Little Joe; parents Pepe and Minga; and father-in-law Ray Loya.

Visitation will be held Sunday, January 15, 2023, from 1:00 to 9:00 PM at Heavenly Grace Funeral Home in La Feria, with the Holy Rosary recited at 7:00 PM. A funeral mass will be celebrated Monday, January 16, 2023, at 10:00 AM at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, followed by interment at Heavenly Grace Memorial Park.

Honored to serve as pallbearers will be her Lone Star family.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heavenlygracergv.com for the Loya family.