Graciela Melva Pacheco

We are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Graciela M. Pacheco on November 20, 2023. She was born to Jorge Villarreal and Odilia Canales Villarreal on April 11, 1943, in San Benito, Texas, graduating from San Benito High School in 1961. While attending St. Mary’s School of Nursing, Gracie met Louis Pacheco, Jr. They were engaged in October and married the following April. After their honeymoon in Monterrey, she graduated from nursing school in 1965 and the newlyweds loaded a small trailer to move to Galveston where Louis had purchased a home for them. Two years later, she gave birth to their only child, Louis Joseph Pacheco.

Gracie worked in the medical field for 35 years, having started as an operating room nurse at John Sealy Hospital, now UTMB Health. It was there she devoted most of her career until she retired, and the couple moved to Dickinson. In 2007, after 42 years of marriage, Louis passed away. A few years later, she reconnected with her high school crush, Hector F. Guerra. For 11 years, Gracie and Hector were inseparable. He was her rock when her son Louis Joseph fell ill and ultimately passed away in 2013. In 2021 Gracie lost Hector as well.

She was preceded in death, as well, by her parents, Jorge and Odilia Villarreal, and sister Maria del Carmen Villarreal. She is survived by her granddaughter Marissa Avery Pacheco, adopted granddaughter Amber Marie, brother Jorge Villarreal and wife Linda, nephews Xavier Villarreal (Chandra), Joel Villarreal (Linda), Anthony Cruz (George), Michael Cruz (Lisa) and many great nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be begin with a visitation on Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. followed by a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Funeraria De Angel Mont Meta located at 26170 State Highway 345, San Benito, Texas 78586.