Juanita Mares

Mrs. Juanita Mares, of Laredo, Texas died peacefully on June 11, 2015. She was 96 years old. Juanita was born on January 28, 1919 in Round Rock, TX to Ignacio and Josefa Silva. She and her siblings grew up around the Austin countryside. The family located to Nuevo Laredo years later. Years later she met the love of her life, Pedro. They married in 1947 and relocated to Findlay, OH. The couple had five wonderful children and set about teaching them the compassion, hard work, and other invaluable lessons that would forge their future lives. Her surviving family remember her as a sweet, caring woman and a loving mother and grandmother who encouraged them to pursue happiness. In addition to her caring family life, Juanita enjoyed cooking and gardening. She would always welcome any guests into her home with food and drinks, as well as a warm smile. She could take a simple clipping and raise a beautiful plant. She was an active woman, who always had something to do, from gardening and sewing to reading the paper and enjoying walks. Juanita passed away peacefully after battling Alzheimer's for many years. She will be remembered as a wonderful mother, an engaging storyteller, a caring friend, a loving grandmother and a source of compassion. She is preceded in death by her husband, Pedro Mares; her children, Rosa Ruiz, Tony Mares, Sylvia Mares; her parents, Ignacio and Josefa Silva; her sisters, Beva Guerrero, Pepa Montemayor; and brother, Benito Silva. Juanita is survived by her children, Melinda Mares of Laredo, TX and Daniel (Delia) Mares of San Antonio, TX; her daughter-in-law, Linda Mares; her five grandchildren, Jesse Mares, Robert (Stephanie) Mares, C'Lina Mares, Peter Mares, Rebecca (Daniel) Wentzel; her great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Visitation is scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2015 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels, 719 Loring at Cortez with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 16, 2015 departing the funeral home at 8:10 a.m. to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 8:30 a.m. Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at the Laredo City Cemetery. All are welcomed to attend and celebrate Juanita's life. You may express your condolences to the family by signing the online guestbook at: www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com Arrangements are under the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels, 719 Loring at Cortez, Laredo, TX 78040, 956.722.0001.