Fr. José Ramirez, S.M. died in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary on November 17, 2025, at the age of 88 with 69 years of vowed life. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas to Andrés and Benita (Hernandez) Ramirez on August 3, 1937. He grew up in an extended Hispanic family, sensitive to and proud of his cultural heritage.

Fr. José was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his sister Juanita Plumb of the DFW Metroplex, Texas, and numerous cousins and nieces including Elizabeth Sanders, Lodi Holzbaur and nieces, Karen Cummings, Kathy Dreyer, and Sonya Suttles.

Following his graduation from Laneri High School in 1955, he entered the Marianist Novitiate in Galesville, Wisconsin and professed his First Vows on September 8, 1956, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  He earned his BA (Hist) in 1959 from St. Mary University in San Antonio, and his MA (Latin) from St. Louis University in St. Louis.  He went on to complete his theological studies at Regina Mundi Seminary in Fribourg, Switzerland was ordained to the priesthood on March 22, 1969.

Fr. José taught Spanish and Latin in six different schools from Texas to Missouri to Illinois over a period of 17 years.  In 1974 as a young priest, he was invited to experience and help with a Marriage Encounter Weekend.  That one experience changed his life; from 1974-1982, he began doing "double ministry", teaching on the weekdays and giving presentations on Marriage Encounter Weekends. Transitioning once again, he began in 1985 to serve as chaplain at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis.  In 1992 Fr. José returned to his calling of ministering to youth and young adults by serving as chaplain at the Marianist Retreat and Conference Center in Eureka, Missouri for the next 25 years, impacting myriads of people, especially youth.

In 2018, he continued his priestly ministry in St. Louis, Missouri until he moved to the Marianist Residence in San Antonio in 2024.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Memory of Fr. Ramirez to the Marianist Mission, Mt. St. John, 4435 East Patterson Road, Dayton, OH, 45430-1033

Service Arrangements:

Sunday, November 30, 2025

6:00 PM Viewing / 7:00 PM Rosary Service

Monday, December 1, 2025

3:00 PM Viewing / 4:00 PM Mass of Transferal

(Both Services at Marianist Residence Chapel, 520 Fordham Ave, San Antonio, TX)