Jennita, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother peacefully passed away Wednesday, November 28 ^th at home surrounded by her children. She is finally reunited with the love of her life and husband of 59 years, Jesse "Burky" Poston, who died in 2009. They met when they were 12 years old at San Jose Mission and remained parishioners there for the rest of their lives.  Jennita was a lifelong Catholic who had a great respect for all religions, and a special affinity for her father's Jewish tradition. Jennita will be greatly missed by her children, Debbie Poston McBrearty and husband Tim, John Poston, Michael Poston, Donna Poston Williams and husband Monte, Dori Poston Stinson and husband Rick, and Dana Poston Hawkes; and her grandchildren Megan McBrearty Diaz and husband Jose, Caitlin McBrearty, Max, Jake and Evan Williams, Jesse, Rachel, Anna, Ben and Adam Stinson, Jenna, Hannah and Grace Hawkes; and one great-grandbaby Amelia Diaz. She is also survived by her only sister Maxine Goodman Bordelon, and many in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Born in 1928, a fifth generation San Antonian, Jennita descended from the original Canary Islanders who were the first families to settle here.  Jennita lost her father Max Goodman when she was 3 years old. This contributed to her especially tight bond with her precious mother Nell Pereida Goodman.

In fact, Jennita and Burky built their home next door to her mother Nell and sister Maxine on a large piece of land covered in pecan trees.  As the families grew, the 14 cousins spent most of their childhood outside, running freely in and between houses. Jennita considered the arrangement pretty close to paradise.

Blessed with brilliance, beauty and a joyful disposition, Jennita was sought out, admired, emulated and deeply loved by those who knew her.  She graduated valedictorian from the former Our Lady of the Lake High School, attended Our Lady of the Lake College and then went on to graduate from Trinity University with a degree in biology. At Trinity she was elected to several leadership positions, voted "Best Personality" and the school's Tigerland Queen.

Marriage and children shifted Jennita's focus away from pursuing medical school, and onto her greatest joy – her large, lively, tight-knit family, who always gathered together at her home and at the family ranch in Bandera.  Jennita was extremely involved in her children's schools, serving year after year as room mother, Girl Scout leader, PTC officer and organizing or attending a multitude of events at St. Martin Hall, Providence High School and Central Catholic High School.

At her core Jennita felt fiercely called to make the world a better place, especially for the vulnerable in our society.  A born leader she cofounded Roy Maas' Youth Alternatives, an emergency shelter for abused children; helped spearhead The Portrait of American Women, a touring panel who spoke on the prejudices encountered by woman of different religions;  was  president of the St. Monica's Guild, Our Lady of the Lake Alumni Association, Ecumenical  Center's Women's Committee, Church Women United; served on the boards of Our Lady of Lake University, St. Peter-St Joseph's Children's Home, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Alamo Area Council of Governments; served for many years on various Archdiocesan committees, The San Jose Altar Society, The United Way Review Panel, UNICEF's local chapter, the San Antonio Council of Girl Scouts, Sultanas, and so many other organizations, too numerous to name. She was a regular volunteer in local nursing homes, the State School, Robert B. Green Hospital, and struggling area elementary schools.

She also had a great love of music and was president, board member and lifelong patron of the Tuesday Musical Club, founded by her Aunt Annie Hertzberg to promote classical music in San Antonio.  Jennita was named San Antonio's Volunteer of the Year in 1984 by the San Antonio Express News. She was also honored by the San Antonio Kiwanis and Our Lady of the Lake University for her lifetime service to the community.

Toward the end of her life, Jennita, with the help of her sister, worked for over a decade compiling a family history, going back as far as the 18 ^th century.  She was very proud of the 500+ page book that resulted from this labor of love, a priceless gift for generations to come.

A supreme optimist, Jennita was quick to laugh and see the very brightest side of life.  "My cup runneth over," she would frequently tell us. Jennita was the epitome of grace and gentility, empathy and compassion, a force for good in the world.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Visitation will begin Friday, December 7 at 5:00 P.M. in
The Angelus Chapel
with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 P.M.

Funeral Mass will be offered Saturday, December 8 at 11:00 A.M. in the
Sacred Heart Conventual Chapel
at Our Lady of the Lake University
411 S.W. 24 ^th St.

Interment will follow at
Mission Burial Park South