The Brownsville Herald - Online Edition OBITUARIES MARIA G. RODRIGUEZ Maria G. Rodriguez, 87, was called by the Lord on Thursday, March 30, 2006, surrounded by her family at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. She was born on May 18, 1919, in Tornillo, Texas. She had been a Brownsville resident most of her life and a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. She was an active member of the Paraiso Day Care Center. She will be remembered as a "happy go lucky lady." She loved dancing and especially playing chalupa (bingo). She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Jesus Rodriguez; her parents, Gregorio and Jovita J. Garcia; and one brother, Alfredo Ortiz. She is survived by her four daughters, Maria R. Zamora, Gloria De La Fuente, Irma R. Zamora, and Mercedez Gonzalez; three sons, Jesus and Juan Rodriguez and Jose Soto; two sisters, Virginia Ortiz and Juanita Sidrian; one brother, Alfonso Ortiz; 29 grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren. Visitations will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, Friday, March 31, 2006, with a holy rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. at Delta Funeral Chapels. Funeral Mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2006, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Delta Funeral Directors, 1300 E. Harrison St., (956) 542-2222. MR. GUADALUPE ABREGO Mr. Guadalupe Abrego, 73, of San Juan (formerly of Brownsville) entered into eternal rest at McAllen Heart Hospital on Tuesday, March 28, 2006. A migrant farm worker until the age of 20, Mr. Abrego graduated from PSJA High School. He served in the U.S. Army with Battery B, 761st Field Artillery Battalion, 412th Field Artillery Group out of Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He went to college after serving in the U.S. Army and became certified to teach mathematics and coach athletics. He attended Pan American College on a baseball and track scholarship. Mr. Abrego taught sixth-graders, all subjects for six years; mathematics for seventh- and eighth-graders and ninth-grade algebra; was an elementary school assistant principal for three years; an elementary school principal for 13 years; coached junior high football, basketball and track for two years; received his master's degree in 1970 from East Texas State University in educational administration, and he enrolled in the doctor's program in 1970. Mr. Abrego was preceded in death by his wife, Eulogia Abrego; a son, Eduardo D. Abrego; and by his parents, Cesario and Santos Abrego. Survivors include his three sons, Gerardo G. (Raquel) Abrego of Round Rock, Texas, David J. (Ana L.) Abrego of McAllen, Texas, and Arnoldo A. Abrego of Irving, Texas; his daughter, Ida M. Abrego of Brownsville, Texas; four grandchildren, Daniel E. Abrego and Aaron A. Abrego, both of Round Rock, Texas and Aisa E. Abrego and David A. Abrego, both of McAllen, Texas. Also surviving are his siblings, Abelina Muñiz of Pharr, Texas, Maria (Enrique) Chavez of Wilder, Idaho, Victoriano Abrego and Olivia Dropeza, both of Caldwell, Idaho, Raul (Vangie) Abrego of San Juan, Texas, Jesusa (Robert) Badillo of Edinburg, Texas, and Hortencia (Joe) Gomez of San Juan, Texas. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, Friday, March 31, 2006, with recitation of the holy rosary at 7 p.m. at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home Chapel, 945 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, Texas. Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2006, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1914 Barnard in Brownsville. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Ramon Estevis, Ernie Morales, Albert Rego, Fidencio Martinez, John Garcia and David Morales. Military rites will be conducted at graveside by members of the Veterans Funeral Detail under the direction of Chaplain Paul H. Spell. Arrangements have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, TX, (956) 546-7111. RAMON H. RAMOS JR. Ramon H. Ramos Jr., 74, entered into eternal rest with the Lord on March 29, 2006, at his residence in Brownsville, Texas. Mr. Ramos is preceded in death by his parents, Ramon Ramos and Josefina Hinojosa Ramos. He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years of marriage, Elva G. Ramos; four children, Josefina Esquivel (Luis), Maricela Campos (Juan), Raymond Ramos (Norma) and Jane Nava (Luis); two step-children, Maria Escalante (Jose) and Feliberto Soto (Juanita); one brother, Felix Ramos; four sisters, Delia, Nelda, Ofelia and Viola. Also surviving Mr. Ramos are numerous other relatives. Visitations were held from 10 a.m. to 9 a.m. with recitation of the holy rosary at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, 2006 at Guerra Funeral Home Chapel of the Arch Angels. Visitations will resume from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. today, Friday, March 31, 2006. Funeral Mass will follow the visitations at 12 noon at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 1200 E. Lincoln St. Interment will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Guerra Funeral Home of Brownsville, 3955 Coffee Port Road, (956) 544-1171. RAFAEL VELA JR. Rafael Vela Jr. died at Hospice Austin's Christopher House in Austin, Texas, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Rolando R. Vela; his parents, Rafael and Marta H. Vela; and brother Crisanto Vela. Felo, as he was known to many, is survived by his wife of 44 years, Norma Rutledge Vela; daughter Marisa J. Vela of San Francisco, Calif.; son Rafael A. Vela of Austin, Texas; son and daughter-in-law Lauro and Anne Vela of Austin, Texas; and his five grandsons, whom he loved dearly and who brought joy and happiness and made his tough days brighter, Rafael Joaquin, Elias Guillermo, Javier Sebastian, Gabriel Alexander and Samuel Christopher Vela. To them, he was their beloved Abuelo, Welo and Aboa. He is also survived by three sisters, Carmen Cano of San Antonio, Texas, Teodora Garcia of Edinburg, Texas, and Eva Murphy, New Carrollton, Md. Rafael graduated from Edinburg High School and Pan American College, Edinburg, Texas. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was general manager for Guerra Bros. and Linn Feed and Supply, Linn, Texas, Edinburg Co-op, Edinburg, Texas, Progreso Grain Inc. and Avi-Gran U.S.A. at Progreso, Texas. Rafael was uncommonly generous and kind throughout his life and never turned his back when he could help someone, be it family, friend or someone he had just met. He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Austin, Texas. A private memorial service to celebrate his life will be held later. His ashes will be privately interred by his immediate family. The family extends its heartfelt thanks and appreciation to his family doctor and friend, Dr. Lauro G. Guerra, to the following doctors and their staffs, Dr. Alejandro Fuentes, Weslaco, Texas, Dr. S. Behara, Dr. Billie Marek, McAllen, Texas, and Dr. Alejandro Ricart, CTRC, San Antonio, Texas. The family acknowledges the heartfelt care and compassion of Hospice Austin and their Christopher House. The staff were so concerned about Rafael's comfort. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Rafael Vela's honor to Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Ste 100, Austin, TX 78759. Arrangements under the direction of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 W. William Cannon Drive, Austin, Texas, 78749, (512) 892-1172. The Brownsville Herald 1135 E. 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