San Benito, Texas- Juanita Cruz Garza, 93, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother went to be with her heavenly Father on Friday, January 03, 2014 surrounded by her family. She was born on November 20, 1920 to Vicente and Natividad Cruz. She lived her life to the fullest and was the matriarch of the family. She worked hard to raised and provide for her children on her own wanting to be independent of others and give her children the best home environment possible. Although she did not have much education herself, she instilled in them the importance of education and gave them a strong foundation of faith. She was a devoted Latter Day Saint who loved to serve her Church and God, always putting others' needs before hers. She would praise God every morning when she awoke and thanked him every evening for the day she had. She not only maintained the household but also loved to work in her garden at the break of dawn. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Eusebio and Jesus Cruz, her 5 year old son Braulio and a set of twin great-great grandchildren. Surviving to cherish her memory and continue her legacy are her children, Juanita G. (Ernesto P.) Martinez, Rafael (Petra) Garza Jr., Fermin C. (Margarita) Garza, Ninfa (Marcelino) Sanchez and Consuelo (Rodolfo) Leal; 17 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. She may have left us but most definitely will not be forgotten. Visitation will be held today, January 06, 2014 from 3:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with a LDS service at 7:00 P.M. at Thomae Garza Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral service will be held Tuesday, January 07, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. at Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints on 2320 Haine Dr. Harlingen, Texas. Interment will follow to Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito, Texas. You may sign the online guestbook and send words of comfort, flowers, or sympathy cards to the family of Juanita C. Garza at: www.thomaegarza.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.