On January 14 2022, our beloved mother, Catarina Rodriguez Juarez was called to her maker.  She passed away peacefully after ninety-three years of life.  She touched countless lives on her journey sharing her un-shakable faith and a quiet love of family.

She was born to Jose Conception and Illaria Rodriguez at the height of the great depression on March 17, 1929 in Staples Texas.  She was the third of fifteen children: Angel , Juan, Irene Carrizales, Paula Torres, Jose, Albino, Pedro, Dominga Rodriguez, Juanna Torres, Francis Prado, Antonia Martinez, Louis, Josefina Rodriguez, Maria Ancira.  She spent her youth as the daughter of a sharecropper where she learned the value of hard work.  She married Jose P. Juarez on December 1946 and moved to San Antonio where they settled for the remainder of their lives.  During their lives together they raised eleven children: Manuel, Aurora Hernandez, Maria Medina, Beatrice Pendelton(deceased), Isabel Garcia, Jose Luis, Andres, Esther, Margarita Medina, David, and Anthony.  She loved cooking for her grand- children and on many occasions prepared a treat , in-spite of parental objections.  She enjoyed sewing and spent hours stitching quilts together for her grand kids.

During hard times the family traveled north to work the fields of Colorado as a way to supplement income.  There, she was the lynch pin of the family.  She made sure everyone was fed and rested and each day she set out with the family and shared in their toil.   On a cool Colorado night we all gathered on the hood of the car.   Above us a million stars blazed through the blackness as we listened to music and news from home.  A small cloud of dust rose at our feet as we danced to the sounds of a thousand miles away.  For a short while our home sickness was broken and we enjoyed each others company.  Occasionally each of us looked up.  Through the torn screen door we could see mom, bathed in the yellow light as she busily swept up the days last dirt.  A coy smile broke on her face and we knew she was watching over us.  In the fields she was always one of the last one out but only because she spent her day helping others easing their burden.   On a dreary July day in 1979 Jose Juarez was called by our lord, leaving Catarina to raise her family on her own.  With compassion and dedication and an absolute faith she guided us on our journey.  Now we lay her to a well deserved rest and give her over to the ages.  She leaves a legacy of ten children, twenty-three grand -children, many great grand- children and countless wonderful memories.  Her memory will dwell in our hearts and we will always be thankful to our lord for blessing us with this amazing mother.  We pray that we will be reunited in our lords kingdom and we will see her smiling face again.  May the almighty father bless and keep you always , mom.

Mom, as long as I can remember you were there: caring, soothing healing, Comforting.  When I was lost you were a beacon of love showing me the Way home.  When I was sad you comforted me and when I rejoiced you lifted me higher.