Oralia Varela

Surrounded by her loving daughters and family, Oralia G. Varela was called into the Kingdom of Heaven on Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Oralia was born on September 9, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan to her parents, Oscar Garcia and Sofia Alva. In 1944, she attended the American Business School in Monterrey, Mexico where she received a degree in Accounting and was named Valedictorian of her class. Upon graduating, she moved to Laredo, Texas where she boarded with the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco. She started her first job with Jovita Perez Clothing Manufacturer and shortly afterward joined an Import/Export business as their accountant. She later worked at Bealls Department store as a cashier manager and then at Sears Department store as the head cashier for 20 years. During her life, her six daughters were always the center of her world. She always encouraged faith,family, education and work as the key to a better life. Her devotion and love for God always guided her many works of charity which included providing food and medical supplies to the poor and elderly in her neighborhood. She was also an active member of the church serving as President of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Society, and Catholic Daughters of the Americas Saint Mary Magdalene Court #1989. She was commissioned a Special Minister of the Eucharist for San Agustin Cathedral for her dedication to the sick and bed-ridden. In 1987, she was selected to serve as a Eucharistic Minister for the Papal Mass of John Paul II. In 2001, she was honored as "Webb County Senior Citizen" in recognition of special citizens who have gone over and beyond normal expectation in their volunteerism for the community. She could never turn away from anyone in need; all was done from her heart without any expectation of reward. Oralia married Carlos F. Varela, Jr. and raised six daughters during their 65 years of marriage. She was the matriarch of a very loving and united family. She is survived by her devoted daughters: Rosalinda (Frederick) Graves, Sylvia (Dr. Carlos) Vergara, Oralia (Dr. Guillermo) Salinas, Olivia (Dr. Arthur) Santos, her sister Diana Pelayo Samano and Toribio (Pat) Saucedo. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Frank (Heather) Agraz, Jr., Raquel (Ryan) Jenkins, Rebecca (Christopher) Dynes, Eduardo Saucedo, Carlos (Jennifer) Vergara, Jr., Marco (Annette) Vergara, Kristelle (Eliud) Garcia, Matthew Varela and Carl Schreiber; eleven great-grandchildren: Jacquelyn Agraz, Antonio Agraz, Gabriela Jenkins, Simone Jenkins, Carlos Vergara III., Alejandro Vergara, Eduardo Vergara, Emily Dynes, Claire Dynes, Sophia Garcia, and Stella Garcia. She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, loving daughters Diana Varela Saucedo and Laura E. Varela, sister Olivia Garcia Martinez, brothers Oscar Garcia, and Rufino Pelayo. Our special thanks to her attending physicians and nursing staff on the 5th floor of LMC for the attention and compassionate care given to our Mom. We rejoice in our mother's new life in Heaven. Visitation will be held Friday, August 1, 2014 at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels, 719 Loring at Cortez from 5 to 9 in the evening. A Rosary will be officiated by Msgr. James Harris at 7 in the evening. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 2, 2014 departing the funeral home at 9: 30 a.m. to San Agustin Cathedral for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Msgr. James Harris will be officiating. Pallbearers will be: Frank Agraz, Jr., Eduardo Saucedo, Carlos Vergara, Jr., Marco Vergara, Matthew Varela, Carl Schreiber, Luis Lozano, and Eliud Garcia. Interment will then follow at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.