Alma Brise�O Barrera

Alma Briseo Barrera, 80, of Brownsville, our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend entered into the glory of her eternal life on Sunday, February 19, 2012 at her residence surrounded by her loving family.

Alma, a lifetime resident of Brownsville, graduated from Brownsville High School in 1950. After raising a family, she returned to college and obtained her bachelors degree in 1968 and her masters degree in 1972 also in English and Spanish from Texas AI University in Kingsville. She continued her studies, this time at Pan American University in Edinburg, receiving a second masters degree in Education with her certification as an Educational Diagnostician. Alma touched the lives of thousands of our communitys youth as a teacher with the BISD for over 30 years.

A proud Democrat, Alma belonged to the Cameron County Democratic Womens Organization. She also belonged to Civitan, The Southwest Business and Professional Womens Organization, the Boys Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, the American Association of University Women, Association of Brownsville Educators, Texas State Teachers AssnNational Education Assn., the American Federation of Teachers, the American Legion John Hanson Post 43, Ladies Auxiliary, and the Quilting Club at Good Neighbor Settlement House.

A devout Catholic, she was a faithful parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where she taught CCD. Later in life, she became a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church where she was a member of the Club Sagrado Corazon. Alma was a charter member of the Sacred Heart of Mary Court 2448 with the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

Alma was the epitome of Family, God, and Country. She loved all three with a passion that was passed on to her family as her legacy.

Alma was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed by all those fortunate to have known her and been a part of her life.

Alma was preceded in death by her parents, Alberto and Julia S. Briseo a sister, Graciela B. Garza two sonsinlaw, Jerry D. Jaross and Dennis P. Koch, and a daughterinlaw, Kathryn Barrera.

Left behind to eternally treasure their memories of her are her children: Dr. Manuel T. Barrera III, Olga Rosie Barrera, Cecilia C. Rafael Rangel, Noe Carlos Barrera, Maria de Lourdes Lulu BarreraJaross, and Marcos Garza the grandchildren that were the light of her life: Julia Estelle, Ashley Nicole, and Sidney Jerome Jaross, and Lindsay Barrera. She will also be missed by her siblings: Alberto Minerva Briseo Jr., Levinia B. Dr. Ernesto Davila, Zulema B. Esparza, and Antonio Mary Bea Briseo her lifelong friends: Socorro and Bernie Maldonado, Elida Torres, and Norma Bravo an honorary daughter, Victoria Ripke Mullin and numerous nieces, nephews, other extended family members and a host of friends.

Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. and continue until 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 in the East Chapel at DarlingMouser Funeral Home with the recitation of the holy rosary at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 1055 US Military Highway 281, Brownsville, TX.

Committal services will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park. Alberto Briseo Jr., Rafael Rangel, Dr. Ernesto Davila DDS, B.P.D. Commander James Paschall, Richard Jaross, and the Hon. Bernabe Q. Maldonado are honored to be serving as Almas pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearers will be: Francisco O. Garza, Jr., Eliseo Davila, David E. Leal, Dr. Eliseo Ruiz, and Ernesto P. Taylor.

Almas family would like to extend their appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to: Dr. Jaime Gomez, Dr. S. Bhondi, and the staffs at Solara HospitalBrownsville and CIMA Hospice for your compassion and care as you ministered to Alma these past few months.

Visitation

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Service

Rosary

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass

Our Lady of Good Counsel
1055 US Military Hwy.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Thursday, February 23, 2012
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Buena Vista Burial Park
5 McDavitt Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78521