Juanita Garza

Juanita was born on April 7, 1922, in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to Manuel Hernandez and Gabriela Sauceda.

At the age of 2 she immigrated to Mercedes Texas with her widowed mother and brother Humberto.

She grew up in Mercedes, Texas and attended elementary and middle school completing the 8th grade. At the age of 18, she returned to Monterrey with her mother and brother for a few years before returning to Mercedes, TX where she met her husband, Jesus Garza. They married in 1945 and had 5 children, Joe, Mario, Rene, Javier, and Mary Jane.

They lived in Mercedes for most of their lives where Juanita was a homemaker, and as the children got older, she was a teacher’s aide at various daycare centers. She became a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance church where she and the family attended services, was a Sunday School Teacher and a member of the Women’s Alliance League. Juanita had a very deep faith and prayer life. She spoke about the love of Christ to others and the importance of knowing Christ as our personal savior. 

In the late 1970’s Juanita and Jesus moved to Kokomo, IN where they both worked at the Howard County Migrant Day Care Center as an Aide and Cook, respectively before retiring. She remained in Indiana until her passing.

She will best be known for a woman of faith, being an amazing mother, a loving grandmother, and her hospitable nature.

Juanita is survived by her five children Jose Luis (Linda), Mario (Maria), Rene, Javier (Olivia), and Mary Jane (Manuel). She is also survived by eleven grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren.

A visitation will take place from 11am-1pm, on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at Flanner Buchanan - Carmel (325 E. Carmel Dr., Carmel, IN 46032) with a funeral service to take place at 1pm. Burial will take place following the service at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery (9001 Haverstick Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46240). 

The family would like to thank the staff of Maple Park Village for the great care and love they provided for Juanita for the past three years.