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Obituary of Roberto Infante Serrano
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Roberto Infante Serrano, of San Benito, TX passed away at 91, on June 18th, 2023, on Father’s Day.
He was born on January 31, 1932, in Brownsville, Texas during the early years of the Great Depression. Born to Estefana Infante and Isidro Serrano, he was raised by distant relatives at an early age. Forced to work part-time in his childhood years, he withdrew from school in his early teens to work full-time. At 17, he joined the United State Marine Corps. By 1950, he was in combat in Incheon, during the Korean War. He rarely spoke of his time fighting in the horrendous cold, but its effects trailed him for the rest of his life. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and returned to Brownsville, Texas.
On December 15, 1955, he and Carlota Galvan of Brownsville Texas were married by the Catholic Church. He enrolled in a GI-funded nursing program at Texas Southmost College, completed his training in 1957 as a nurse, and began working at Mercy Hospital in Brownsville, Texas.
By the early sixties, he was the father of 3 boys, Roberto, Ricardo, and Ruben. Struggling to meet the demands of a growing family, he reluctantly left the medical field and entered a career in the insurance industry. Working for various insurance companies, he succeeded and bought a house for his family. In 1968, a daughter, Yvonne, was born and their family was complete.
During the seventies, he provided for his family by continuing in the insurance field while running side businesses, from a shoeshine stand on Robertson Street, and a mechanic shop on South Sam Houston, to several other business opportunities. By the end of the seventies, he owned and ran Serrano’s Food Store, a convenience store on Pennsylvania Ave. Family gatherings were frequent at their home with aunts, uncles, and cousins enjoying food, drink, laughter, and singing.
Entering the 1980s, the nation's economic conditions and lagging business forced him to sell the store. The insurance industry was impacted as well. He decided to return to the medical field and renew his nursing license. By the mid-eighties and throughout the nineties, he was working again in the nursing field at local hospitals, nursing and rehabilitation centers in San Benito and Harlingen. With all his children grown and educated, he and Carlota enjoyed their late fifties and sixties gathering with close family members and friends. They enjoyed the company of others with a welcome smile to their home, a cup of fresh coffee, and a plate of homemade food to fulfill good conversation.
Roberto retired from the medical field in the early 2000s. He and Carlota spent their weekends going to Saturday service at St. Benedicts followed by a night of dancing at the American Legion, the VFW, or at the La Villita Dance Hall. Visits to relatives and loved ones were frequent as were drives around town with his dog Duke in the back of his old Ford Ranchero. In addition to his work ethic and always putting family first, his legacy to his children was instilling a passion for reading, learning, and never giving up your dreams.
Roberto is preceded in death by his mother Estefana Infante, father Isidro Serrano, brother Julio Serrano and half-brother Pedro Serrano.
Honoring his life and memory are his wife Carlota Serrano, three sons, Roberto (Noemi) Serrano Jr., Ricardo (Cecilia) Serrano, Ruben (Kathleen) Serrano and daughter Yvonne (Michael) Serrano Keranen and his sister Maria Serrano Buitron. His grandchildren extend his legacy: Benjamin Serrano, Richard Serrano, Cassandra Serrano, Theodore Serrano, Trina Serrano, Cody Keranen, Tyler Keranen, Danielle Keranen, and great-grandchildren Britnee Serrano and Leo Serrano.
Visitation will be held Friday, June 30, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the prayer of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito, TX.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 351 S. Bowie St, San Benito, TX with interment to follow at Mont Meta Memorial Park with Military Honors.
You may sign the online guestbook, light a remembrance candle, or send words of comfort to the family of Roberto Infante Serrano 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.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Roberto Serrano, please visit Tribute Store
Friday
30
June
Visitation
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Friday, June 30, 2023
Thomae-Garza Funeral Home
395 S. Sam Houston
San Benito, Texas, United States
9563991331
Need Directions?
Friday
30
June
Rosary
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Friday, June 30, 2023
Thomae-Garza Funeral Home
395 S. Sam Houston
San Benito, Texas, United States
9563991331
Need Directions?
Saturday
1
July
Mass of Christian Burial
10:00 am - 10:45 am
Saturday, July 1, 2023
St. Benedict Catholic Church
Bowie St
San Benito, Texas, United States
Need Directions?
Saturday
1
July
Interment
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Mont Meta Memorial Park
Sam Houston
San Benito, Texas, United States
Need Directions?
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Roberto Serrano
1932 - 2023
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Phone: (956) 399-1331
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