Janie V. Garza

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Janie V. Garza, our loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and friend to all whose lives she touched, on October 4, 2023. She left us while sleeping peacefully at her residence at Ella Springs Senior Living Community after a prolonged period of congestive heart failure.

Janie witnessed incredible changes to her world after being born on July 29, 1929, in a two-story house on Airline and West Road and living on several dairy farms throughout the Houston area, from the Crash of Wall Street to the Great Depression; from World War II to marrying the love of her life in 1948, and from giving birth to four children from 1949 to 1968. In 1954, Mom and a few friends went to see a rising star – Elvis Presley – perform at Magnolia Gardens and fittingly, the last movie she saw was Elvis at the movie theater. In October 1962, she worried about missiles aimed at Houston during the Cuban Missile Crisis while talking to neighbors at Minimax, the neighborhood grocery store, and she watched the first man walk on the moon in 1969 on a black and white TV. During this time, she got her GED through a correspondence school and dabbled in drawing when she could. Mom enjoyed watching TV even when they had rabbit ears and aluminum foil and later watching the novelas (everyone knew not to call when those played) and crime shows on her flat TV. The 1970’s brought new members into the family – Rick married Brenda in 1972 and Junior married Sharon in 1974 followed by their first grandchild’s birth. The 1980’s brought 3 more grandchildren into her life and in the early 1990’s, she retired from Texas Commerce Bank as a bank teller. She is remembered as having customers who would gladly wait in a line just for her, and her broad smile framed by red lipstick. During these years, she was also a member of the Eastern Star and established many long-lasting friendships, and one more family member was added – Belinda married Chris in 1992. Not long after her retirement, the last of her grandchildren were born, which she babysat until they started school. Janie was a devout Catholic who had a strong belief in the Lady of Guadalupe and praying the Rosary. After almost dying, a priest recited Psalm 23 to her, and it quickly became her favorite Bible verse.

After she moved to her new home on Chestnut Tree Lane, she became a member of St. John Neumann serving on the altar society and being involved in their annual bazaar. This continued until she no longer felt comfortable driving. Janie loved classical country music from Freddy Fender’s “Mathilda” to Bobby Bare’s “Marie Laveau” and from Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line” to Cal Smith’s “Country Bumpkin.” You’d find her listening to her 33 RPM vinyl records until she could no longer see the controls on the record player. Throughout her life, she especially enjoyed playing Lotería or dominoes with family and friends. One friend succinctly said, your “mom’s caring nature, generosity, and kindness were simply contagious; she brought joy to everyone she met.”

Janie was the beloved mother of Pete (Sharon) Garza, Jr., Rick (Brenda) Garza and Belinda (Chris) Gaddis. She especially treasured being the grandma of Christina (Pete) Rushford, Daniel Garza, Laura (Jason) Haley, Cheryl Garza, Austin and Nathan Gaddis. And she felt especially blessed to be the great-grandmother of Avery, Chandler, Alden and Caden Rushford and of Jagger and Jayden Haley.

Janie was predeceased by Guadalupe and Felipe Vela, her parents, Max Vela, her brother, Porfirio (Pete), Sr., devoted husband of 68 years, David Eddie, their stillborn son, and countless family and friends.

Most of all she always exuded love and kindness to her family and instilled in them strong values that have served them well. She will be forever in our hearts and dearly missed.

Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Janie’s life on Thursday, October 12, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Funeraria Del Angel, 5100 North Fwy, Houston, Texas 77022. The rosary will be prayed from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, followed by a small reception.

Janie loved wearing red lipstick and having her nails done. Please honor her by wearing your favorite color of lipstick or nail polish, if you wish.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, October 13, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 2730 Nelwood Dr., Houston, Texas 77038. The Rite of Committal and burial will follow from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Forest Park Lawndale, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, Texas 77023.

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