Josephine Juarez Carrillo died peacefully at home on October 10, 2024 one month shy of her 98th birthday. She was born to Adolfo Juarez and Leonarda “Naya” Bastardo Juarez on November 11, 1926 in San Angelo, Texas. She married her beloved, Meregildo “Mere” Carrillo in 1946 and together they built a loving home for their three daughters – Ernestina, Eliza and Esther.
Josephine, also known as “Fita” and “Josie” lived through nearly a century of change. Born at a time when women’s roles were relegated to the home, she readily embraced the opportunities the changing society allowed. Fully bilingual, she and her girlfriends ventured beyond the constraints of their traditional families and experienced life outside the barrio. She was proud to be fluent in two cultures and was able to pick and choose from the best that each had to offer. Always a beautiful woman, Josephine was a trend setter – wearing the latest fashions, loving to attend both Mexican and Western dances and adopting new technology as it emerged.
Josephine attended Sam Houston Elementary School through the 7th grade. As a young woman she worked in a flower shop and at a local hotel as an elevator operator. Once she became a mother, she stayed home to raise her daughters but returned to the work world when they begin school. She worked as a housekeeper for several prominent families in San Angelo and later went on to work as a cook in various settings including Angelo State, Goodfellow Air Force Base and Headstart.
Josephine never knew the meaning of boredom. She kept a beautiful, immaculate house and was a wonderful cook. She was an exquisite quilter and embroiderer. Her work was beautiful, detailed and unique. Her greatest pleasure was displaying her quilts and having them admired. Until the last few months of her life she could be found sitting in her recliner embroidering or scrolling through YouTube videos looking for new stitches to learn.
Josephine left an indelible impression on anyone who had the privilege to meet her. Her incredibly detailed memory, coupled with her storytelling skills left those around her in awe. To sit with her, even for a brief time, allowed one to learn the history of San Angelo and its inhabitants. Young people often sought her out seeking assistance in filling in gaps in their own family histories.
Josephine will be missed by her daughters, Ernestina and Eliza, who will love her to the end of time. They remain forever grateful for the sacrifices she and their father made on their behalf to assure that they would have all the opportunities they were denied. Josephine saw beauty everywhere, even in the tiniest rock on the ground. Her daughters will keep her memory alive by continuing to seek the beauty the universe provides and appreciating the shape of the clouds in the sky, listening to the songs of birds as the sunset and seeing the possibilities that a needle, thread and a fabric remnant provides. Josephine will be the spiritual quilt that will protect them throughout their lives.
Josephine is preceded in death by her mother and father, Leonarda and Adolfo Juarez; her husband, Meregildo Carrillo; her youngest daughter, Esther Sutton; her brothers, Frank “Boy” Juarez; Gabriel “Lel” Juarez, and Pablo Juarez. She is survived by her daughters, Ernestina Carrillo (Larry Polon) from Berkeley, California and Eliza Ann Payne (Sam) of San Angelo, Texas; her brother Inez “Nacho” Juarez; two granddaughters Conchita and Eliana; and two great granddaughters Josie and Sylvie; several loving first-cousins, nephews and nieces.
Josephine’s daughters want to thank the family and friends who filled their mother’s life with laughter and love and who were at her side through all the joys and sorrows that life offers. They also want to thank the caretakers who made her life comfortable and helped fulfill her wish to remain in her own home until the moment of her last breath.
Contributions honoring Josephine’s memory may be made to: St. Gabriel’s Hospice, 303 West Harris Street, Suite 1, San Angelo, Texas 76903.
