Guadalupe Texas

GUADALUPE J. CORTEZ
February 16, 1956 - September 25, 2016

Mrs. Guadalupe J. Cortez, 60, entered into eternal rest on Sunday, September 25, 2016 after a courageous and inspiring battle against cancer.

Mrs. Cortez was a dedicated mother and wife as well as a passionate educator with the Laredo ISD family for 36 years. She was a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan, an avid Lifetime channel movie buff, and she adored the music of Juan Gabriel.

Some of the attributes that garnered the admiration, love, and respect of all those who she came across was that she treated everyone with equal respect, admiration, and a selfless attitude. She was also the consummate role model and leader, continually espousing the highest level of excellence in both her professional and personal life.

Mrs. Cortez was never satisfied with the status quo. Through her optimism and discipline, she worked hard to bring out the best in her and others. It is evidenced in the success of her children who work in higher education, medicine, law, and secondary education. However, even her former students inspired by her discipline have expressed gratitude for her example. Her hard work led to her ascension to the role of principal in the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Her career included being principal of her alma matter, J.W. Nixon High School, from 2007-2011, and she subsequently ended her career at the campus of Don Jose Gallego Elementary School, a school aptly named after her grandfather, Don Jose Gallego, for his philanthropic contributions to education.

She was courageously optimistic throughout her life and persevered through any challenges she faced. She is greatly beloved by her family and friends and will be dearly missed.

Left to cherish her memory are: her parents, Teresa and Vicente Gutierrez; siblings, Vicente (Gloria) Gutierrez, Jr., Teresita Gutierrez, Margie Gutierrez, Javier (Elvira) Gutierrez, and Nora (Ernesto) Meza; husband, Oscar Cortez; and children, Christine Alyson Cortez, James Vincent Cortez, M.D., Leslie Ann Cortez, and Oscar Cortez, Jr.

The family will receive condolences on Thursday, September 29, 2016 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels, 1410 Jacaman Rd.; where a Rosary will commence at 7 p.m.

Funeral Services will be conducted on Friday morning, September 30, 2016 departing at 8:30 a.m. from Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m.

Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at the family plot of the Laredo City Cemetery.

You may express your condolences and sign the guestbook online at: www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels, 1410 Jacaman Rd., Laredo, Texas 78041; (956)722-8850.