Esther Garza Jimenez was born on May 12, 1924 in El Paso, Texas.   In the early 1930's her family relocated to San Antonio. The only girl in a family of five children, she graduated from Fox Tech High School in 1943.  She met and married her future husband, Jose G. Jimenez, while working at Kelly AFB in 1944 and began her life of dedicated motherhood successfully raising thirteen children. Education was extremely important to Mom in preparing her children for life; missing a day of school was not an option.  All her children attended college, with graduates from various universities and technical colleges.

Charity work and the support of St. Agnes Church was a keystone of Mom's life.  She became a member of the St. Agnes St. Vincent De Paul Society in the late 1940's and President in the 1990's.  She selflessly helped those in need spending countless hours sorting donated clothing, shoes, and other items.  We clearly remember the large paper bags packed with essentials for each family.  Names written in crayon on the side.  Mom knew each family's needs by name and by heart.  She took requests from families of the parish at all hours of the day and night and together with Dad, she helped develop and support the St. Agnes food pantry well into the early 2000's.  As a member of the St. Agnes Altar Society she made hundreds of cakes twice a year for St. Agnes festivals to support the church.  The family has many memories of making cardboard cake carriers covered with butcher paper to support the effort.

Master of all things cooking, Mom made the best homemade tamales, flour tortillas, and limeade in San Antonio.  We will never forget the intense preparations of the tamale making process which led Dad to create a tamale machine for her to make the process more efficient. Family and friends would put in orders months ahead of Christmas time to make sure they received at least a few dozen.  And she made hundreds of dozens each year.  Despite many attempts, we have been unable to duplicate Mom's quality and taste.  Her homemade flour tortillas melted in your mouth and she always made fresh limeade to support the all-day basketball games in the backyard.

Life lessons for her children came easy for Mom.  An avid animal lover, she adopted many stray cats and dogs that taught us the proper treatment of animals.  She also enjoyed sewing and quilting immensely, encouraging her children to learn along the way.  She handled all clothing alterations simply and quickly.  Each holiday season always came with special outfits made with love.  Her love for children extended to her numerous grandchildren and their children and she was always there to assist with a helping hand when needed. Mom's presence will be greatly missed by her family and friends; she will always be with us through our memories of her dedication to her children, church, and family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Jose G. Jimenez in 2005, daughter Agnes Lee - wife of Gregory M. Lee, in 2004, brother Alfonso Garza in 2017, and grandson Todd Bland in 2017.  She is survived by twelve children: Step-son Jose Guadalupe Jimenez Jr., Step-son Dr. Roberto Jimenez & wife Darlene, Bertha and husband Jorge Arenas, Frances and husband John Robert Bland, Margaret Frei, Teresa Evans, Philip Jimenez, Esther and husband Jeffrey Circle, Frank Jimenez, Ernest Jimenez and wife Elva, John Jimenez and wife Marisol, Michael Jimenez and wife Tami. She is also survived by two brothers, Arthur Garza and Gilbert Martinez, 30 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Visitation will be held on February 12, 2019 from 5:00pm-7:00pm followed by a Rosary at 7:00pm to be held at the Angelus Funeral Home, 1119 North St. Mary's Street, San Antonio, TX.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 829 Ruiz St, San Antonio, TX at 10:00 am on February 13, 2019 with burial to follow at San Fernando Cemetery No. 2.

A celebration of life reception will be held at St. Agnes Church Hall following the burial services.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Flowers may be sent to The Angelus Funeral Home or contributions may be made to St. Agnes Catholic Church or the St. Vincent de Paul Society, https://svdpsa.org.