Irene Barrera Cantu

Irene was born on March 31, 1927 in Laredo, Texas to Sixto and Lamar (Medina) Barrera. Irene joined Southwestern Bell in 1945 immediately after graduating from Laredo Martin High School in Laredo Texas at the young age of 17. She worked in various positions with Southwestern Bell beginning with Chief Operator, and working up to Manager Special Services Engineering, Network Switched Services before retiring on February 18,1986.

Irene married the love of her life, Gilbert Cantu. Irene is preceded in death by her loving spouse of 64 years, Gilbert Sr. her two sons, Eric, and Adriel “AC”, and is survived by her oldest son Gilbert Jr., and Daughter-in-Law Kim A. Eckert. The oldest girl in a family of 11, she has brothers and sisters still living in the San Antonio area.

Irene will always be remembered as a loving wife and a very proud Mother. She raised three boys while working a fulltime job. After she retired, she loved to read books and watch the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Cowboys on game days. She will always be remembered for being a very devote and religious Catholic. She would walk the length of two long buildings every week in her little red walker to attend Sunday Mass and receive Communion. She was always offering prayers for family members and friends that needed our Lord’s blessings.

The family has decided to hold a private graveside service at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, in Pflugerville, Texas.

In lieu of floral tributes, the family asks that you direct your gift to Jennifer Wilks Foundation (http://www.jenniferwilks.org/), or the charity of your choice in her memory.