Rio Hondo, TX- Juan Ortega, 73, passed on to his new life with the Lord on August 23, 2010. He was born on November 14, 1936 to Guadalupe and Manuela Ortega in Rio Hondo, TX. He is preceded in death by his parents; and 2 sisters. Juan is survived by his former wife, Lupita Ortega; his companion of 22 years, Irma Santos; his children, Juan (Weezy) Ortega, Gilbert (Vero) Ortega, Margarita Ruiz, Luis Manuel (Lucha) Ortega, Celia (Jose Luis) Lozano, Rafael (Chris) Ortega, Angelita (Ovidio) Lopez, Elvia (Victor) Olivarez, Josie (Juan) Salazar, Lily Ortega and a special granddaughter that he raised as his own daughter, Rose Mary (Luis) Garcia; 31 grandchildren; 41 great grandchildren; 6 brothers and 2 sisters. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 26, 2010 from 3:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with a Holy Rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, August 27, 2010 at 2:30 P.M. at St. Helen Catholic Church in Rio Hondo. Interment will follow to San Vicente Cemetery. Honored to serve as pallbearers are his grandsons, Nathan Ortega, Victor Olivarez, Jr., Johnny Garcia, Joe Garcia, Juan Ortega, Jr., Luis Ortega, Jr. and Gilbert Ortega, Jr. The family would like to give a special Thanks to Fronteras Adult Daycare Center for all their support in our time of grief. He will be greatly missed as he was a wonderful father, grandfather, brother, father-in-law and friend. Words of comfort can be sent to the family of Juan Ortega at www.thomaegarza.com Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S Sam Houston, San Benito, TX (956) 399-1331.