DONACIANO “Chano” GARZA SAN JUAN —
Donaciano “Chano” Garza, 94, of San Juan, died Monday, February 27, 2023, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.
Mr. Garza was born in Harlingen to the late Hilario Garza Sr. and Antonia Gonzalez Garza. He lived in Alamo most of his life and later moved to San Juan.
Chano proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in July of 1951. Upon his return from the military, Mr. Garza began his career as a furniture salesman. His first job was with Inman Furniture in Alamo and then with J. Edelstein Furniture Company in McAllen. He married Consuelo Garza on November 9, 1952, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alamo.
Chano was an active member of his community. He was a former City Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Alamo, where he served three terms. During Hurricane Beulah, he spent countless hours around the clock helping Alamo residents get to safe shelters and providing home cooked meals for those families. Chano also served his community as a volunteer firefighter and as a member of the Alamo Lions Club.
On April 17, 1977, together with his wife, Consuelo, they established Triple City Ballroom in San Juan, where many social events took place, including their 25th Wedding Anniversary, their 45th Wedding Anniversary, and their daughter’s wedding reception. Many of our local citizens had their weddings, quinceañeras, and anniversary celebrations at Triple City Ballroom, and others remember attending the dances held every Sunday evening. It was here where Chano’s familiar phrase was often heard, “MUSICA!”
In 1994, he and his wife, Consuelo, together with his daughter, Velma Sue, and her husband, Leon, established Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. In September 2001, Chano and Consuelo retired from their dance hall operation and leased their facility, which now operates as Triple City Bingo. Chano and Consuelo celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in November of 2003. That same year they opened Memorial Funeral Home of Edinburg. In 2016, Memorial Event Center, Memorial Cremation Center, and Memorial Pet Passages were established.
Chano spent his last years having coffee with friends, enjoying happy hour at his favorite hangouts, and of course, trips to Las Vegas with his daughter and son in law.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Consuelo Garza; four brothers, Hilario Garza Jr., Flavio Garza Sr., Alfredo Garza Sr., and Jesus Garza; seven sisters, Guadalupe Ozuna, Julia Olivarez, Ofelia Livas, Herlinda Aleman, Otila Martinez, Hortencia Ortiz, and Sofia Canche.
Chano is survived by his daughter, Velma Sue De Leon; his son in law, Leon De Leon; three sisters, Maria Luisa Ortiz, Teresa Garcia, and Leticia Gonzalez; and his caretaker, Imelda “Mela” Ramirez.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., with a 6 p.m. rosary Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Funeral mass will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 2, 2023, at Resurrection Catholic Church in Alamo. Interment will follow at Val Verde Memorial Gardens in Donna.
Military honors will be conducted by VFW Post 7473 of Elsa.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.