San Juana Avila

San Juana Avila, age 88, of Brownsville, Texas, peacefully passed away on December 4, 2025. Born on September 14, 1937, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, she was the cherished daughter of Gilberto Zamorano and Estefana Almanza. With a compassionate heart, San Juana dedicated 35 years of her life to caregiving, offering love and support to those in need. She found joy in simple pleasures, especially playing bingo and listening to music.

San Juana is preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Avila, along with her sons, Jose Ronaldo Avila, Jose De Jesus Avila, and Manuel “Meme” Avila; her daughter, Dolores “Lola” Vonohlen; her parents, Gilberto Zamorano and Estefana Almanza; and her brother, Gregorio Quintero.

She leaves behind a legacy of love through her surviving children: Martha I. Sanchez (+Arturo), Alvaro Salazar (Irene), Sergio Salazar (Sonia), Samuel Avila Jr. (Gracie), Aurora Ramirez, Alfredo Avila (Marisa), Juanita Kelly (Kenneth), Estefana “Fany” Sanchez (Alonzo), Gilberto Avila, and Ana Alicia Avila. San Juana was also a proud grandmother to 39 grandchildren and a great-grandmother to 43 great-grandchildren. Her surviving siblings include Matilde Zamorano, Horacio Zamorano, Olga Zamorano, Sylvia Zamorano, and Enedelia Rodriguez. She cherished her lifelong friendships with +Arcardia Ramirez, +Rebecca Garcia, Chabelita, and Esther Wade.

A visitation will be held on Monday, December 8, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:00 p.m. A chapel service is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at Los Fresnos Funeral Home, followed by interment at Buena Vista Burial Park in Brownsville, Texas.

Honored pallbearers include Gilberto Avila, Nathaniel Kelly, Brandon Avila, Jose Ronaldo Kelly, Alfredo Solitaire, Christopher Samuel Vasquez, Patricio Vasquez Jr., and Raul Ramirez Jr.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to her granddaughter, Daisy Elaine Avila and Jovani Barreto, for their unwavering care, as well as Martha I. Sanchez for her support during this time.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Los Fresnos Funeral Home, located at 1005 S. Arroyo Blvd., Los Fresnos, Texas. San Juana Avila’s loving spirit will be deeply missed, but her memory will forever remain in the hearts of those she touched.