The Brownsville Herald - Online Edition Obituaries June 8, 2006 BRUNILDA RICH, 54, passed away Tuesday, June 6, 2006, at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. She was a native of Brownsville and life long resident. Cremation services will be under the direction of Garza Memorial Funeral Home, 1025 E. Jackson St. (956) 542-5511. ELVIRA OJEDA NAVARRO, 71, passed away on June 6, 2006, at Ebony Lake Nursing Center. Cremation was held at Sacred Park Crematory in Weslaco. Local arrangements are under the direction of Delta Funeral Directors, 1300 E. Harrison St. (956) 542-2222. ESTELA G. VEGA, 99, of San Benito, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 at Retama Nursing Home. Funeral arrangements are pending under Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston Blvd. (956) 399-1331. DORA ESCOBEDO CRUZ Dora Escobedo Cruz, 70, of Brownsville, entered into eternal rest at Life Care Hospital in McAllen Wednesday, June 7, 2006. She was born in Villanueva, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Ms. Cruz was a member of Templo Emanuel Asamblea de Dios Church where she was a Sunday School teacher and very actively involved in all church activities. She worked for J.C. Penny for many years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Modesto Escobedo and Juanita Martinez Escobedo and by her sisters, Maria Magdalena Garza, Natividad Garza, Juanita Garza and Sara Arreola. Survivors include three brothers, Modesto Escobedo Jr. and Ruben Escobedo, both of Brownsville and Daniel Escobedo of Austin; three sisters, Beatriz Escobedo Vega of Austin, Elizabeth Barroso of Marshall, Mich., and Lydia Escobedo of Houston, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. today, Thursday, June 8, 2006, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at the Darling-Mouser Funeral Home chapel. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 9, 2006, at the Darling-Mouser Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Enoc Nuñez officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Arrangements have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, Texas (956) 546-7111. FELICITAS P. DORIA Felicitas P. Doria, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, entered into eternal rest Tuesday evening, June 6, 2006, at LifeCare Hospital in McAllen. Mrs. Doria was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Evaristo Doria; her son, Evaristo Doria Jr; her daughter, Sylvia Cavazos, all of Brownsville and her daughter, Maria Elvia "Tia Tutu" Flores, of Rio Hondo. Left to honor and celebrate her memory are her surviving children: a daughter, Ernestina "Tina" (Leo Sr.) Gonzalez of McAllen and her son, Eduardo Doria of Toledo, Ohio; eight grandchildren: Mark A. (Christie) Gonzalez, Michael A. (Patty) Gonzalez, Melinda Gonzalez, all of McAllen, Leo Jr. (Marci) Gonzalez of San Antonio, Veronica, Vanessa, and Roxanne Cavazos of Brownsville, Sam Doria of Toledo, Ohio; and 6 great-grandchildren: Madeline Gonzalez, Katie Gonzalez, Selina Gardea, Samantha Gonzalez, Ethan Gonzalez all of McAllen and Jake Gonzalez of Conroe, Texas. Known to her family as "Fela," she was born on September 7, 1911 and was 94 years young. Fela was energetic, an avid gardener, passionate about life and dedicated to her family. Her warmth and sincerity embraced all who came in contact with her. A role model throughout her life, Fela's vigor and vitality inspired family and friends when she survived cancer twice with unwavering strength, humor, and grace. A devout catholic, she was a longtime member of St. Joseph's Church in Brownsville until moving to McAllen where she attended Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in McAllen for the last 3 years. She will always be remembered as a loving, thoughtful, and giving woman. Visitation will begin today, Thursday, June 8, at noon and continue through 9 p.m. with the recitation of the holy rosary at 7 p.m., at the Darling-Mouser Chapel. The Mass of Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 9, 2006, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with burial to follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Eduardo Doria, Sam Doria, Ronnie Cavazos, Mark A. Gonzalez, Michael A. Gonzalez, and Leo Gonzalez Jr. The family would like to thank our friends and family for their support and prayers during this difficult time. We would also like to express our sincerest gratitude to the doctors, therapists, and staff at Doctor's Hospital at Renaissance and Lifecare Hospital for your dedicated, compassionate care of Fela. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd. (956) 546-7111. WILMOT B. FABRE Wilmot B. Fabre, 88, passed away June 6, 2006 at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownville, surrounded by family members. He was born on February 2, 1918, to Elie Fabre and Lemina Pesani Fabre of Berwick, La., where he grew up working on his father's oyster farm. In 1949, he moved to Brownsville to work in the shrimp industry. At the time of the retirement in 1998 he owned his own net shop and was making nets for the shrimp boats. Mr. Fabre was preceded in death by his parents, Elie Fabre and Lemina Pesani Fabre and two brothers, Elie Fabre Jr. and Milton Fabre, all of Berwick, La. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Lilly Vining Fabre; four daughters, Patricia Fabre of Anahein Calif., Alona Davila (Lu) of Los Fresnos, Janet Yznaga (Cecilio) of Fort Hood, Texas and Gail Kuehler (Dennis) of Brownsville; four grandchildren and three great-granddaughters; two brothers, Everet Fabre and Sheffie Fabre; and one sister, Iris Violet all of Berrwick, La. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a recitation of the holy rosary at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 8, 2006, at Funeraria del Angel Buena Vista. Chapel service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 9, 2006, at Funeraria del Angel Buena Vista. Committal service will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park Mausoleum. Funeral services have been entrusted to Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista, cemeteries, mausoleums and crematory 125 McDavitt Blvd. (956) 541-5400. CAROLYN J. KUNKLE Carolyn J. Kunkle, 59, of 13400 W. Schlink Road, R.R. 2, died at 9:55 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, 2006, at her residence. Born January 21, 1947 in Brownsville to Fredrick M. and Marie Howan Hodge, she married John W. Kunkle October 10, 1998 in Kickapoo, Ill. She was preceded in death by her father. Survivors include her husband, along with her mother, Marie of Brownsville; one daughter, Elizabeth "Lizzy" (Justin) Walk Bender, of Houston; one grandson, Luke Bender, of Houston; one granddaughter, Kelly Nicole Bender, of Houston; two sisters, Carolyn's twin sister Linda Hodge, of Denton, Texas, and Beverly "Bliss" Peterson, of Brownsville; one brother, David (Inelda) Hodge, of Brownsville; one uncle, Dr. Stephen Hodge, of Oak Ridge, Tenn. Many nieces and nephews also survive. Carolyn is also survived by three step-daughters, Christy (Michael) Thuline of Hanna City, Debbie (Steve) Whited of Las Vegas, Nev., and Julie (Paul) Irvin of Elmwood; four step-grandchildren, Brandi Whited of Las Vegas, Andrew Kunkle and Amy Irvin of Elmwood, and Amberly Thuline of Hanna City. She first worked as a bookkeeper for a law firm in Brownsville, then worked as a bookkeeper for J.W. Kunkle Builders for 12 years. Carolyn was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Kickapoo, it's Women's Guild, and the Ladies Auxillary for Knights of Columbus Spalding Council #427 in Peoria. Visitation was held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with recitation of the holy rosary at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7, 2006, at Wright & Salmon Mortuary. Further visitation will be 30 minutes prior to the Mass on Thursday at the church. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2006, at her church, the Rev. Patrick Riordan officiating. Burial will be in Swan Lake Memory Gardens. Memorials may be made to The Kidney Foundation or The Peoria Humane Society. Tributes and condolences may be submitted to www.wrightandsalmon.com ANITA R. MAGALLANES Anita R. Magallanes, 76, entered the Kingdom of Heaven surrounded by her loving family at her residence on Wednesday June 7, 2006. She was born in Winter, Texas in 1930 and lived part of her life in Del Rio, Texas. Subsequently, she moved to Brownsville in 1990 where she was active in missionary work in Mexico and was an active member of the West Brownsville Baptist Church. Anita is survived by her sons, Hector Magallanes, Victor Magallanes, Juan Anselmo Magallanes, and Armando Magallanes; daughters, Velma Valdez, Alejandrina Magallanes, and Erica Magallanes; brother, Alvaro Ramirez; granddaughters, Maribel Magallanes, Mireya Magallanes, Sienna and Paloma Magallanes; grandsons, Lucio Magallanes, Hector Magallanes Jr., Joaquin Magallanes, and Seneca Magallanes; great-grandchildren, Jonathon Magallanes and Jocelyn Galindo. She is preceded in death by her husband, Juan Amaro Magallanes, son; Juan R. Magallanes; daughter, Verenanda Magallanes and parents, Isabel Ramirez and Refugio Ramirez. Funeral services will be at 8:30 a.m. Friday, June 9, 2006, at Iglesia Bautista West Brownsville, 925 West Charles St., Brownsville, Texas 78520, with the Reverend Carlos Navarro presiding. Interment will follow to Rose Lawn Cemetery in Brownsville. Pallbearers will be her sons, Hector Megallanes, Victor Megallanes, Juan Anselmo Megallanes and Armando Megallanes, and two sons-in-law, Jose De La Cruz and Rodolfo Valdez Jr. Honorary Pallbearers will be Juan Andrade Jr., Alfredo Ramirez, and Alvaro Ramirez. Words of comfort may be sent to the Magallanes family at www.thomaegarza.com Funeral services are entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, TX 78586 (956) 399-1331. The Brownsville Herald 1135 E. Van Buren Brownsville, TX 78520 956-542-4301 1-800-488-4301 © 2000 The Brownsville Herald