Manuela Rendon, 76, of Harlingen/San Benito, Texas, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2022. Manuela was born on December 1st, 1946 to Olivia Chavez Rendon and Hilario Rendon in Harlingen, Texas. After she graduated from Harlingen High, she began her 50 year journey of community service. She began her advocacy journey in 1971 as a lead teacher at Bonita Park Head Start in Harlingen, Texas. In her first year as a teacher, she acquired her life-long passion and love for serving children and families. In 1977, Manuela was promoted as Head Start Director. In 1989, she embarked on her most significant challenge, rallying employees, parents, and community leaders to establish Neighbors in Need of Services, Inc. (NIÑOS) and applied for the Head Start grant for Cameron and Willacy counties. She took on the position of Executive Head Start Director with NIÑOS Inc. in 1990. Under her leadership, the program has grown from serving a few hundred children to serving over 2,300 Head Start and Early Head Start children annually. Manuela is preceded in death by her father, Hilario Rendon, and her siblings, Lilia Gonzales, Hilario Rendon Jr., Nora Rendon Marin, her sister-in-law Enriqueta Benavidez Rendon, and nephew Pablo Gonzales. Manuela is survived by her mother, Olivia Rendon, Twin Daughters, Giselda and Daniela Rendon, Granddaughter Chloe Hunter, her Siblings Francisco Rendon, Obdulia Rendon, Leandro Rendon, and wife Lydia Rendon, Olivia Rendon, Rosa Rendon, Zulema Rendon, 26 nephews and nieces, 56 grand nephews and nieces, three great-grand nephews and nieces, and countless godchildren. Outside of her love for Head Start and community involvement, Manuela enjoyed writing poetry, being the loudest and proudest sports grandma, politics, traveling, finding the best casinos, holiday decorating, and cooking for her family. She always put others before herself, and her love was always felt through her generous spirit. Honor to be serving as Honorary Pallbearers: Stevie and Kevin Gonzales. Pallbearers: Tereso Guerra, Armando Vasquez, Fernando Vasquez Jr., Francisco Rendon, David Kowalski, Aaron Serna, Rumaldo Solis and Rolando Solis. Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 03, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church, 121 Garrison Drive in San Benito, Texas. Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, January 04, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church in San Benito with Interment to follow at Ashland Memorial Park Cemetery, 21037 Godwin Road in Harlingen, Texas. Memorial Service will follow the Interment at the NINOS, nc. Administrative Office, 22887 State Highway 345, Rio Hondo, Texas. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Manuela Rendon Scholarship Fund that will be awarded annually to a former Head Start student. Donations can be made via https://gofund.me/5a8d6ba4 Donations can also be sent to: 22887 Tx-345 Rio Hondo Texas 78583. Made payable to :Advocacy of NIÑOS You may sign the online guestbook, light a remembrance candle, or send words of comfort to the family of Manuela Rendon at www.thomaegarza.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Home and Crematory, 395 S. Sam Houston, Blvd., San Benito, TX 78586.