We celebrate the life and remembrance of Herminia Villegas Garza, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

Herminia Villegas Garza, 84 was called to be with our Lord on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 6:19pm at her home in Houston, TX. She was born May 11, 1939, in Monterrey, Mexico the fifth of seven children and the second eldest daughter to Jose Maria Villegas and Agapita Silva. She was a happy child and at an early age was drawn to music in particular singing and dancing. As a child she participated in radio shows that held voice auditions for singers to sing on the radio and on several occasions, she was selected and sang on the radio variety shows. Her father was a shoemaker of orthopedic shoes and she worked alongside her sister who both helped him with the shoe making process.

As was customary, after primary school, as a teenager she started working. She first worked as shoe salesperson selling shoes. When the shoe store closed, she later worked as a salesperson at a local Department store.

She always loved to sing and often sang on request at family events or at weddings. At a wedding reception of a mutual friend in 1958 Herminia met Jose Angel her future husband and they began what was a 4-year courtship. During their courtship, the couple enjoyed going to movies and going to dances. Herminia shared her love of music with her future husband, and they often attended local socials and dances where they danced the Dances of the time such as Mambo, Tango, and Cha-cha. Herminia and Jose married 4 years later on December 30, 1962. Throughout her life Herminia and Jose enjoyed going to dances and they also enjoyed the movies.

They started a family and raised 4 children in Monterrey, Mexico where Herminia was a homemaker. She loved her family, and all her efforts were always geared toward the betterment of her children and her family. In 1972 the family immigrated to United States where they started a life in a new country in Chicago, Illinois. After two years, on July 4th in 1974, the family re-located from Chicago and arrived on July 5th, 1974, to Houston, TX to start their new life. Herminia remained dedicated to being a good mother and always strived to strengthen the family. She completed her GED and started working as an assembly worker of circuit boards. She also had an entrepreneurial spirit.

Among the many things she enjoyed, one of her favorites was traveling. She and her husband later enjoyed traveling to many places. They realized many trips always with children, grandchildren, or other family members among them: Jerusalem to see the Holy Land, Prague, Italy, Sweden, New York, California, Disney World, Philadelphia where she climbed the "Rocky" steps and many trips to their beloved Mexico just to name a few.

Her determination continued throughout her life, and she never forgot her love of music. She instilled the values of family and hard work in her children but also her love of life and enjoying the simple treasures such as family. With extreme sorrow we mourn her passing. Though we mourn her loss, we are privileged to have had her in our lives and her legacy will continue through her descendants.

She is preceded in death by her mother Agapita Silva, her father Jose Maria, her brothers Leonardo Villegas and Jose Maria Villegas, Jr. and sister Elena Garcia

She is survived by her beloved family which includes her husband of 60 years Jose Angel Garza, her sisters, Dolores Villegas, and Marta Contreras and her brother Pedro Villegas

Children:

Jose Angel Garza, Jr. and wife Stephanie; Elsa James and husband Dennis; Blanca and Jorge

Grand Children:

John Anthony James, Marcella Farmer and husband David, Christina Young and husband Warren, Damian James, Rose Garza, Chris Smith,  Tori Smith, and Ethan Bianco

Great-Grand Children:

Ella James, Olivia Young, Micah Young, Levi Young, Bryce Farmer, Travis Farmer

Survived also by 43 nieces and nephews, many Great-Nieces and Great-nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, and a host of extended family and friends.