The Monitor from McAllen, Texas • 22

2C Friday, April 27, 2001 THE MONITOR, McAllen, Texas Obituaries Mission. Prarie, Texas. Also surviving are numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Visitation will be held today, April 27, 2001, at the Chapel of Angels at the Gonzalez Family Funeral Home of Edinburg. A Christian rite service will be celebrated at 2 p.m.

Burial will follow at babyland at Hillcrest Cemetery in Edinburg. Funeral services are under the direction of Gonzalez Funeral Home of Edinburg. Edinburg, Maria Alicia Saudeda of Oregon, Hilda Solis of Kentucky, Viola Villarreal, Vida Villarreal and Brenda Villarreal of Arlington; two brothers, Elizardo Saenz of Edinburg and Brigido Villarreal of Robstown; two sisters, Margarita Corpus Martinez of Brownsville and Aurora Collins of McAllen; 43 grandchildren; and 28 greatgrandchildren. Visitations will begin at 10 a.m. today, Friday, April 27, 2001, with a 7 p.m.

prayer service at Flores Chapel. Graveside service will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28, 2001, at Granjeno Cemetery. Burial will follow at Granjeno Cemetery. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Flores Funeral Home of Mission.

of Austin, Mario "Buddy" Mufloz II of College Station, Bianca C. Muftoz of Harlingen, Amanda and Travis Taylor of McAllen; two great-grandchildren, Ian and Jae Gully of Arlington; and her sisters, Iris (Alberto) Garcia of San Benito and Eva Salinas of Stafford, Va. Esther M. Trevifio is preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert Trevifio; parents, Joe and Acsen-cion Moody; and brothers, Edelmiro, Eleazar and David Moody. Pallbearers will be Mario Mufioz, Mario G.

"Buddy" Munoz II, Angel Saenz, Carlos Covarrubias Harold Taylor and Jason Gully. Honorary pallbearers will be Alberto C. Garcia, Ruben Trevifio, and Jeffrey Mott. "Mow, you will be greatly missed by your loving family and all who knew and loved your Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. today, Friday, April 27, 2001 at Mont Meta Memciral Park in San Benito.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Thomas Funeral Home in San Benito, Texas. entered etemaj rest to be with her Heavenly Father on April 24, 2001, at St. Luke's Hospital in Houston, Texas, after a lengthy illness. Mrs. Castillo was bom, April 8, 1944, in McAllen, Texas, to Mr.

Guadalupe Huerta and Mrs. Maria Santoyo Huerta. She is survived by her parents Guadalupe and Maria Huerta; brother, Tony Huerta (Elia); sisters, Gloria Ibanez (Alfonso) and Hermelinda Huerta; children, Cindy (Castillo) Hoots (Rodney), Edith Castillo, Lisa Castillo, Victor Castillo and Felix Castillo; and grandchildren, Brendon, Meagan, Sebastian and David Hoots. Ms. Castillo was a U.S.

Postal Worker, a dedicated substitute teacher and a licensed massage therapist. She touched the lives of every person that came in contact with her. She was a big hearted lady whose heart unfortunately failed her in the end. She will be dearly missed by friends and family too numerous to list. Visitations will be held from 1 to 9 p.m.

today, April 27, 2001, with a 7 p.m. rosary at Rivera Funeral Home in McAllen. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 28, 2001, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church with Father Gus Pacheco officiating. Interment to follow at Valley Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Texas State Bank for Bertha Castillo account 41201965 P.O. Box 4797 McAllen, Texas 78501-4797. DEATH NOTICES MERCEDES Funeral services for Antonia C. Casfaneda, 87, who died Wednesday, April 25, 2001, at Knapp Medical Center, are pending with Rudy Garza Funeral I lome in Mercedes. MISSION Funeral services for the infant Luis Bravo who died Thursday, April 26, 2001, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital, are pending with Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.

WESLACO Funeral services for Raul Gonzalez, 85, who died Thursday, April 26, 2001, are pending with Hawkins Funeral Home in Weslaco. WESLACO Funeral services for Lucia R. Martinez, 67, who died Thursday, April 26, 2001, are pending with Hawkins Funeral Home in Weslaco. MISSION Elda Garza, 70, died Thursday, April 26, 2001, at McAllen Heart Hospital. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 28, 2001, in Comales, Tamapulipas, Mexico.

Local arrangements were entrusted to the care of Flores Funeral Home of Mission. FUNERALS TODAY PHARR Funeral services for Esther C. Singleterry will be held at 1 1 a.m. today, April 27, 2001, at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Pharr.

Burial will follow at Hidalgo City Cemetery, under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. MISSION Mass of Christian burial for Mr. Raul Villarreal will be held at 2 p.m. today, April 27, 2001, at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church.

Interment will follow at 3 p.m. at Abram Cemetery, under the care of Pi vera Funeral Home of PEOPLE ESTHER M. TREVINO SAN BENITO Esther M. Trevino, 80, entered into rest on Wednesday, April 25, 2001 She was a lifelong resident of San Benito. She is survived by her four daughters, Cynthia (Mario) Munoz of Harlingen, Esther Cortez of McAllen, Dianne (Angel) Saenz of Corpus Christi and Debra (Harold) Taylor of McAllen.

She is also survived by her seven grandchildren, Michelle (Jason) Gully of Arlington, Jennifer L. Cortez of McAllen, Carlos Covarrubias Jr. Original Advocate Despite battling ovarian cancer, Rangel remains a strong education supporter McALLEN Chapel services for Mr. David D. Pantoja.

will be held at 10 a.m. today, at the Rivera Funeral Home Chapel of, Peace of McAllen. Interment will follow at 1 1 a.m. at La Piedad Cemetery in McAllen, under the direction of Rivera Funeral Home in McAllen. McALLEN Chapel services for Mr.

Hector Morones will be held at 11 a.m. today, April 27, 2001, at Rivera Funeral Home of Roses in McAllen. Interment will be held at 12 at La Piedad Cemetery, under the direction of Rivera Funeral Home in McAllen. OBITUARIES MARTIN VILLARREAL SR. MISSION Martin Villarreal 82, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, April 25, 2001, at Mission Hospital.

He is survived by six sons, Martin Villarreal and Homer Villarreal of Mission, Bernardo Villarreal of Edinburg, Eduardo Villarreal of McAllen, Pedro Villarreal of Weslaco and Merced Villarreal of Arlington; eight daughters, Maria Tijerina and Antonia Hernandez of sion, Jesusa Delgado of she learned what education was worth. That's when her father took her and her two sisters Olga and Minnie to a South Texas farm for a week of backbreaking work picking cotton. Then he gave the girls a choice. "He asked if we wanted to pick cotton or go to school," Rangel said. "We said, 'school Since then, Rangel hasn't strayed from school.

She graduated from college, taught for several years and then went to law school. And in 1 976, she was elected to a seat in the state House of Representatives. She's been there ever since. Rangel, a Kingsville Democrat, serves as chairwoman of the House Higher Education Committee, a post she has held since 1995. And this session, while most lawmakers are focusing on redrawing district lines and the budget, Rangel is pushing proposals designed to help students get an education.

But as the 69-year-old fights to help students, she also wages a personal battle. Throughout the legislative session, she has undergone chemotherapy to combat ovarian cancer. Ironically, the ovarian cancer was discovered last year during a final checkup following Rangel's battle with inflammatory breast cancer. The breast cancer is in remission, and Rangel was scheduled for her final dose of chemotherapy for the ovarian cancer this month. She has already gotten good news from her doctors.

"My gynecologist said he didn't feel or see any cancer and the oncologist said everything looks good from the blood tests," Rangel said. "God has been very good to me." Legislators from all regions of Texas keep checking on Rangel. State Rep. Bob Hunter, R-Abilene, keeps an eye out for 4 -WfUBlUP. MARIA MORENO ELSA Maria Moreno, 56, entered into rest April 25, 2001, at the Comfort House in McAllen.

She was born August 10, 1944, in Edcouch, Texas. She is survived by daughters, Hilda Cortinas of San Antonio and Dorina Moreno of Elsa; son, Arnoldo Gonzalez of Harlingen; five grandchildren; brothers, Guadalupe and Reyes Moreno of Elsa, Pedro Moreno of DiBoll, Texas; sisters, Esper-anza Cuellar of San Antonio, Angelita Ledesma of Elsa, Romana Moreno of Edinburg and Isabel Moreno of Florida; and mother, Hilaria Moreno of Elsa. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. today, April 27, 2001, at Elsa Memorial Chapel, Elsa. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Park, Weslaco.

Services are under the care of Elsa Memorial Chapel, Elsa. NOTICE: Death notices and funeral announcements are provided free of charge by The Monitor as a public service. For families who want a complete story, including photograph, an obituary is available for a nominal charge. Information will be accepted only from an established funeral home. The deadline is 3 p.m.

daily For information on obituaries and billing, call 686-4343 and contact Yoli Garza at ext. 297. Minnie Rangel Henderson, Irma's sister, said those were valuable lessons to learn. "We always wanted to do something original, to be the first," said Henderson, 72. "Our parents told us we had potential and encouraged us.

We were taught to do the best we could and not to fear anything. "We were taught to always have a go-get-it-attitude, but to respect everybody." State Sen. Carlos Truan, D-Corpus Christi, who grew up in Kingsville, said Rangel and her sisters were known for breaking down barriers. Henderson became the first female pharmacist and the first Hispanic pharmacist in Kingsville. Olga Rangel Lumley became a teacher.

Irma Rangel, too, began teaching school in South Texas after she graduated from Texas 1952. She taught in Caracas, Venezuela, for seven years. And she taught in California. After Rangel graduated, she became the first female assistant district attorney in Corpus Christi. Then she became the first Hispanic lawyer in Kleberg County.

And soon she became the first woman to serve as chairman of the Kleberg County Democratic Party. In 1976, Rangel became the first Hispanic woman elected to the state House of Representatives. And she later became the first woman to head the House Mexican-American Legislative "She overcame all the obstacles that were there," said Eddie Cavazos, a lobbyist and former lawmaker from Corpus Christi. "Just look at the Legislature now. She opened doors for so many people." Only five of the 150 members of the House have served longer than Rangel.

"She has dedicated her life to public office," Truan said. MARCOS ROEL HERNANDEZ EDINBURG Infant Marcos Roel Hernandez, son of Roel Hernandez and Mary Carmen Aguinaga of Edinburg passed away on Monday, April 23, 200 1 in Edinburg, Texas. Baby Marcos Roel is survived by his parents; paternal grandmother, Eliza Hernandez; and maternal grandparents, Luis and Rosalinda Aguinaga of Grand The Associated Press Herminia Rangel were hard workers and eventually became successful appliance store and dress shop owners. "They had wonderful ambition and wanted to achieve success," Irma Rangel said. But there were pitfalls along with the success.

Her parents bought land in the "Anglo section" of Kingsville and were the first Mexican-Americans to build on property in the area. Neighbors started a petition drive to prevent the family from building there, but the Rangels built a two-story house anyway, and Irma Rangel continues to live in the home today. "They took everything in stride," Irma Rangel said of her parents. "When they were discriminated against, they'd say, 'Don't get angry, don't get bitter. Get an education and 7 make things better." BERTHA ALICIA CASTILLO McALLEN Bertha Alicia Castillo, beloved daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother, age 57, At times, she gets tired.

Her joints and legs often get weak. But the chemotherapy hasn't kept Rangel from pushing legislation. "She's overcome some big hurdles recently and that hasn't affected the quality of her work at all," said state Rep. Vilma Luna, D-Corpus Christi, a friend and admirer of Rympathy. "I was not brought up for people to feel sorry for me," she said.

Rangel learned such lessons from her parents, Presciliano and Herminia Rangel. Presc i 1 iano, orphaned at age 5, never had the opportunity to attend school because he spent most of his early years as a migrant worker picking cotton. Herminia, orphaned at age 11, finished the fifth grade. Despite her parents' lack of 7 education, Presciliano and By ANNA M. TINSLEY Corpus Christi Caller-Times CORPUS CHRISTI Irma Rangel was a young girl when FUNERAL HOME DIRECTORY Brown Family Funeral Home 621 E.

Griffin Parkway. Mission583-6333 Elsa Memorial Chapel 201 N. Broadway. Elsa 262-1341 vfCeballos-Diaz 322 E. Kuhn.

Edinburg 383-4931 Ceballos Funeral Home 1023 N. 23 McAllen De Leon Funeral Home 700 E. Pharr De Leon Memorial Funeral Home 1300 E. Expy. 83 La Joya.

TX 78560 580-1111 Flores Funeral Home 219 W. Mayberry, Mission Garcia Trevino Funeral Home 439 S. Vermont, Mercedes Gonzalez Funeral Home 812 E. Cano. Edinburg Guerre Funeral Home Hwy.

107, Elsa, TX 7 Garcia Trevino Funeral Home 439 S. Vermont, Mercedes Hernandez Funeral Home 701 E. Eisenhower Rio Grande, TX 78582 Kreidler Funeral Home 314 N. 10th, McAllen 686-0234 LAI Funeral Home 8 Miles W. Exp.

83, Penitas 519-2649 Memorial Funeral Home 312 E. Exp. 83, San Juan Minion Memorial Funeral Home 923 St. Marie, Mission Rudy Garza Funeral Home 236 S. Ohio Mercedes.

Texas 565-1175 Kirera Funeral Home 1901 Pecan. McAllen 686-2224 Kanchei Funeral Home 1 18 S. Kain, Rio Grande Hkinner-8ilvi Funeral Home 706 W. Sam Houston 787-2244 KkJaner-Silva Funeral Home 122 W. Samano, 383-2775 Vlrfll Wilaon Mortuary WOO N.

Main Vtrfil Wlboa Mortuary 2200 N. Conway, Mission For Advertising 971.1R56 Trailblazen Rep. Irma Rangel, D-Kingsville, talks with a colleague during a House session recently at the Capitol in Austin. Rangel, a Kingsville Democrat, serves as Chairwoman of the House Higher Education Committee, a post she has held since 1995. trinkets he thinks Rangel might enjoy.

One week, he gave her a yellow rose of Texas. Another week it was a glass figurine in the shape of a Jaguar, her favorite car. "She has said she is going to fight this and get this behind her and she's doing that," Hunter said. "She's a great example to all of us." Three days after Rangel learned of her ovarian cancer, she underwent surgery to remove her ovaries, uterus and appendix. The chemotherapy is an extra preventative measure to make sure none of the cancer cells remain in her body.

Since the surgery, she's taken chemotherapy treatment every three weeks. She lost her hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. She wears colorful scarves and hats to keep her head warm. i 7.