WESLACO, TX. — Beatriz Gerusa Garza

94, died in her home Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 12:06 p.m., in the presence of loved ones.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Joe E. Gerusa and Rosa Weaver Gerusa; her daughter, Gloria Garza Llewellyn; her husband, Eleno Garza and her sister, Mary Helen Manganiello.

She is survived by her son, Jose Marcelo Garza, and daughter-in-law, Teresa Cadena, of Weslaco; by three sisters, Angela Leal and Bertha Elizondo, both of Los Indios, and Dora Reinbold, of Sun City, California; by a brother, Rodolfo Gerusa, and his wife, Joan, of Pacifica, California. She also left behind two grandsons, Jeffrey David Llewellyn, of Phoenix, and James Marcelo Garza-Gerow and his wife Lyza Elaine, of Weslaco; her great-grandson, Ian David Llewellyn, of McAllen, her great-granddaughter, Megan Llewellyn, of Phoenix; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Beatriz was born at El Rancho del Venadito, near Los Indios, Texas, on August 29, 1915. She graduated from Villa Maria High School in Brownsville and completed one year at Texas Southmost College, where she met her future husband, Eleno Garza. She continued her college education at Texas A & I, in Kingsville and began her teaching career before she had completed her degree. She and Eleno married on September 24, 1936, and moved to Weslaco, where they eventually established the Garza Funeral Home. Beatriz later completed her bachelor’s degree at Pan American College.

Her long career as an educator began near her home at schools along the Military Highway. She taught first in La Paloma (1935-37), then Landrum School (1937-40), and eventually in Runn (1942-43). In 1942, she also began her career with the Weslaco school district, teaching first at Leoline Horton Elementary School (1942-57) and then at Weslaco High School, where she taught Spanish until her retirement in 1970. In her role as a class sponsor, a sponsor of the National Honor Society, and the Pan American Forum, she formed deep and lasting relationships with numerous students and their families.
In addition to membership in various state and local teaching organizations, Bea, as she was called, remained active for many years in the Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Fine Arts Club, and Delta Kappa Gamma. She helped with the Girl Scouts for a few years but is best remembered for her tireless efforts on behalf of the American Cancer Society, including her leadership roles in promoting such activities as the “Great American Smoke Out,” “Jail ‘N Bail,” the “Christmas Open House” parties, as well as meriendas and style shows of regional Mexican costumes. In addition, she was a zealous fundraiser at times for local school projects, for Valley Grande Manor (when her parents lived there), for the Knapp Medical Center Foundation, and for M.D. Anderson hospital. She also served on boards of the Weslaco Library and the Weslaco Bi-Cultural Museum.

Co-founding the San Pablo Presbyterian Church with her husband Eleno ranked as one of her most notable and satisfying achievements. For over forty years, she played an active role there as a teacher, an officer in church organizations, and an organizer of countless church functions.

In recognition of her service as an educator and civic leader, Bea received many honors. She was selected as an Outstanding Educator of America, included in a list of Personalities of the South, and named in the World Who’s Who of Women. In 1967, she was selected Weslaco First Lady. The Weslaco Chamber of Commerce chose her as the comadre (and her husband as the compadre) of the 1986 “Diez y Seis Celebration.” The Chamber of Commerce also presented her with the Outstanding Citizen Award, for her “many years of unselfish service to Weslaco,” in 1982 and again in 1992. In recognition of this achievement and of her work on behalf of the American Cancer Society, the House of Representatives of the Texas state legislature passed a “House Congratulatory Motion” in 1993 commending her service. In 1997, her community bestowed its highest honor on her by giving its newest middle school her name.

After her retirement as a teacher in 1970, Bea’s greatest pleasure for many years was having lunch a couple of times a week with a few high school teachers and administrators, most of whom had been her students.

Family, friends, acquaintances, and members of the public can pay their respects on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at Hawkins Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m., with a memorial service from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Visitation will continue on Thursday, October 22, at the San Pablo Presbyterian Chruch, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.

A worship service will begin at 2:00 p.m. Interment at the Weslaco City Cemetery will follow the service.

Pallbearers include Jeffrey David Llewellyn, James Marcelo Garza-Gerow, Ian David Llewellyn, Olivier Van Der Graaff, Rolando Arellano and Anthony Covacevich.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Hawkins Funeral Home of Weslaco.

Her loved ones miss her already and commend her spirit into the hands of her Lord, praying that He will extend all His tender mercies toward her.

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