ELISA VILLARREAL
de la GARZA
MISSION — Elisa Villarreal de la Garza, age 96, passed away July 27, 2004, at Mission Hospital in Mission. She was the daughter of Leonardo Milstead Villarreal and Anatasia Champion Cantu born July 27, 1908, in Bluetown, Texas.
Mrs. de la Garza was a descendant of South Texas pioneer families. Her paternal grandfather was Don Jose Maria Villarreal. Don Jose Maria was a rancher and a U.S. Custom Mounted officer. Her paternal grandmother was Victoria Milstead Green who resided in the Santa Maria- Bluetown, Texas area.
Her maternal grandparents were Eliseo Cantu and Virginia Champion they were farmers and ranchers also residing in the Santa Maria–Bluetown area.
“Momo,” as she was affectionately called by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, enjoyed preparing holiday and birthday meals for all the family. She was a master cook and a talented seamstress. She enjoyed making rag dolls for her grand and great-granddaughters. She also had a love for flowers being an avid gardener with a green thumb.
Survivors include her sons, Congressman Eligio “Kika” (Lucille) de la Garza of McAllen and Robert (Gilda) de la Garza of Edinburg; six grandchildren, Eddie (Linda) de la Garza of San Antonio, Ruby (Larry) Krautkremer of Willis, Rene (Sylvia) de la Garza of Edinburg, Dr. Jorge (Velda) de la Garza of McAllen, Michael (Sonia) de la Garza of Corpus Christi, Angela de la Garza of Austin; 22 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dario de la Garza in February 1987; her brothers, Alberto, Alfredo, Frank and Robert Villarreal; her sisters, Rebecca Gutierrez, Lucinda Torres, Victoria Hernandez and Ella Guerrero.
Visitation was 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 29, 2004, with a 7 p.m. rosary at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mission. Funeral Mass will be 4 p.m. today, Friday, July 30, 2004, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Mission.
Pallbearers will be her great-grandsons, Danny de la Garza, John Robert Struthers, Bobby de la Garza, Jorge de la Garza Jr., Philip Farias and Michael de la Garza Jr.
Services are under the direction of Ric Brown Family Funeral Home of Mission.