Yolanda Garza

Yolanda, who loved to be called “Mom” by her children and “Yolie” by her siblings, departed her loving family at the age of 79, on November 10th, 2021 from Stage 4 Uterine Cancer.

Yolanda was born in San Antonio, TX on March 24th, 1942, to Diamantina and Ernest Breig. She was one of 8 children.

The heavens knew what they were doing when this beautiful soul was born. It's believed that the world needed good souls to fill our earth and Yolanda was surely one of those beautiful souls. Her devotion to our Lord, and to her family was like no other. Her innocence was true and pure and not like most people. She was a special soul. She touched everyone that was in her life with her warmth, laughter and inner beauty. Her physical beauty was unmatched as she was one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen in my life, but, her inner beauty was the best part of our mother. She was a loving person and honored her family and husband as she did God and raised her family with this same kind of love. She was a loyal sister and friend. Her thoughts were pure and there wasn't a person that met her that didn't love her. She kept a wonderful homestead for her little family and raised us with an abundance of love and devotion.

Yolanda grew up in a loving home with 7 siblings in their house hold. Life wasn't easy back then, but the love they shared with one another made up for everything they might have been missing. This family went through their trials and tribulations, just like any other family, but they prevailed. She was devoted to her parents and kept close to her siblings throughout the years, until her death.

Yolanda, enjoyed many musical pleasures in her life. Her parents provided her with piano lessons and a beautiful Grand Piano that she lovingly played and kept throughout her life. Later, Yolanda, attended Harlindale High School and went on to San Antonio Jr. College, where she belonged to a sorority and was chosen as a Poster Girl for a few local organizations. It was in her choir class that she met the love of her life, Carlos Z. Garza. She noticed him during role call one day and also noticed that he had an hispanic last name. She was shocked when he came up to her at the water fountain and drummed up the courage to speak to her. She new instantly, this was young man she wanted to know more about.

Their common interest was music, but It was the piano that bonded the two together and from that point, they knew they were meant to be together.

Yolanda dated Carlos for two years before he proposed. They married on August 19th, 1962. They raised two children together, Yvonne Yolanda and Carlos Daniel.

Carlos supported their new family by working 2 jobs, and serving in the Armed Forces for many, many years, while Yolanda raised their children at home while working part time as a teacher for a short while.

Yolanda and Carlos, being devoted Christians, attended church every week with their children, in every city they lived in.

Years later, Yolanda would work part time at Dillard’s department stores, along side our father, Carlos, who managed the store. Our mother was a mom not only to her two kids, but also to anyone that needed a mom’s advice whether it be with other family members or friends she met along the way, but, most importantly, she honored God, and her family. She had many "Children" at Dillard's.

Yolanda’s most important relationship, besides our Heavenly Father, was with her husband and her children. Carlos was not only charismatic, he too was an angel on earth. He dedicated his free time away from Dillard’s to give back to the community and orphanages. He also organized committees during his spare time which demonstrates his outstanding devotion to his charities as well as humanity. Yolanda beamed with pride and was always right by his side for every accomplishment of his and well as us kids. He was the light of Yolanda’s life. If you knew Yolanda, you knew Carlos was her eternal love. When he moves, she moves and vice versa. He was an outstanding husband to Yolanda and a loving Father to us. He did just about everything he could for her and their children. He cared for her, danced with her, played music for her and supported her throughout her life. She was blessed to have him and he was blessed to have her. Yolanda and Carlos’s bond will live on for eternity. My brother and I feel blessed to of had a such a special people as our parents.

Yolanda and Carlos were also blessed with beautiful grandchildren and devoted her time and love to them. They were the apples of their eyes. We enjoyed our weekly trips to "Nana and Papo's" house. We have many, many wonderful memories to look back on, as well as my Brother.

Our parents taught us many things in our lives but the one thing my mother taught us was to "Do what God expects of you and you will be blessed". From our Father it was " Everything you do, do for your family". Those ideals have been placed in our minds and our hearts as we went along and raised our families. As kids, Carlos and I were just as devoted to our parents as they were to us and our children. And we continued that devotion throughout their older ages. It was the only thing in our lives that really mattered.

Later in life, Yolanda lost her beloved husband, Carlos in 2018 and was inconsolable. Our hearts were broken to lose our father and our mother, Yolanda, would be given more bad news about her own health, a year later. There was much sadness in her life that never seemed to go away once our Dad, Carlos, was gone. Nothing could put her life back together and it was all we could do to help her through it. Her diagnosis was just another devastating blow to all of us. I feel blessed that I lived in the same city and was able to be there for her throughout our trying times. Cancer is a beast, but Mom tried her best to hold her head up high. My brother and I thank God that we were able to spend as much time as possible to be with her.

I want to give thanks to her sister, Maggie A. Scott, for also being there for her sister, Yolanda, and for me while my mom was going through cancer and through her transition to death. It was the hardest thing we had ever been through. But, I’m thankful that I had my Aunt Maggie through all of this. She too is a special soul, just like he sister.

Our Mother will be forever missed in our lives and our hearts. I still reach for the phone, every night, like I used to, to speak to her and hear her lovely voice. Then a second later, I remember we can’t do that anymore. Though we cant speak to them daily on the phone any more, my brother and I make it a daily practice to talk to our Mom and Dad, spiritually, every day.

Yolanda is survived by her loving children, Yvonne Y. O’Shaugnessy and son, Carlos D. Garza, along with her grandchildren, Christopher Z. Garza, Meghan E. Glankler and Chelsea N. O'Shaughnessy, children of Yvonne and Johnny O'Shaughnessy. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Mia A. Garza, and Cameron Danison, children of Carlos D. Garza and Angela Garza. In addition, Yolanda is survived by her remaining siblings Maggie Scott, David Breig, Danny Breig and Ruben Breig.

Services will be held at Sunset Funeral Home on December 10th, 2021. Visitation starts at 10:00 am followed by the memorial services at 11:45 - 12:45. Line up for burial services starts at 12:50 and departs for Fort Sam Houston Cemetery where the service will begin at 1:15 and end at 1:45. Pastor David Miracle, will present both services . Following the burial, appetizers will be offered at Sunset Funeral Homes for our family members.