Port Isabel, Texas: Esperanza Barrientez Garza, 100, of Port Isabel, Texas passed away at her residence on June 24, 2009. She is preceded in death by her husband, Adolfo Garza Sr.; Parents, Pedro and Romana Valent Barrientez; Her twin sister, Consuelo Esquitin; Her brothers, Justo Barrientez Sr., Manuel Barrientez, Lorenzo Barrientez, Alfonzo V. Barrientez Sr., and Jimmy Barrientez Sr.; 2 stepdaughters, Josephine Gonzalez and Nellie Cuellar. Esperanza was a born on July 27, 1908. She came from a family of 14 children and included 3 sets of Twins to one of the first pioneer families of Port Isabel. She was also a lifetime member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Port Isabel. In 1967 she attended Texas Southern University, specializing in Head Start Education. Esperanza was involved in children's education for over 50 years. In 1989 the Port Isabel Head Start School was renamed to Esperanza B. Garza Head Start. Due to her many civic contributions, in 1988 Point Isabel Independent School District named their New Junior High School Complex in her honor. As a leader, Esperanza served as a coach in Laguna Madre Little League, as a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Spanish Choir and was involved in creative children's costumes used in parades, plays, graduations, in Charros Days Festivities, and was a devoted Port Isabel Tarpon Fan. "Till now, I am teaching the little ones in Head Start, which is the joy of my life. I'm very thankful to God and my parents who gave me this great gift of love for little ones. So far, I have taught five generations with God's help and I hope to keep on working if God permits." She survived by her loving children, Adolfo (Cristina) Garza Jr. of Corpus Christi, Vitay (Leon) Irvin of Port Isabel, Rolando (Delia) Garza of Laguna Heights, Anna Melina of Port Isabel, Roy (Rebecca) Garza Sr. of La Paloma, and Katie Rocha of Port Isabel; 2 step daughters, Ada Gonzalez of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Gloria Dominguez of Galveston, Texas; and Adopted daughter and caregiver, Eva Hernandez of Port Isabel; 19 Grandchildren, 36 Great Grandchildren, and 1 Great Great Grandchild; 3 Sisters, Sister Mary Stella Barrientez of Incarnate Word in Corpus Christi, Isabel Perez of Brownsville, and Viola Guillot of Port Isabel; 1 Brother, Pete (Stella) Barrientez of Corpus Christi; 1 sister in law, Aurora M. Barrientez of Port Isabel; Several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Visitation will held today Friday June 26, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a Holy Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 705 S. Longoria St. in Port Isabel. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday June 27, 2009 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Port Isabel with Father Gerry Barrett officiating. Interment will follow to Port Isabel City Cemetery in Port Isabel. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Danny Moore, Darryl Moore, Darren Irvin, Raul Garza, Ramiro Tito Delgado Jr., Jimmy Delgado, Roy Garza Jr., Louis Bennett Jr., Florentino Rocha Jr., and Carlos Rocha. Honorary Pallbearers are her granddaughters, Dinah Silva, Cristy Moly, Lori Melina, Tracey Gorham, Karen Brown, Michelle Bender, Lori Helm, and Rhoda Reyes. Words of comfort can be send the family of Esperanza B. Garza at www.thomaegarza.com Funeral arrangements under the direction of Thomae-Garza Funeral Home, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas.