Josefa T. Castellano

BROWNSVILLE, TX. – Josefa T. Castellano, 95, of Brownsville, Texas passed away peacefully and joined the love of her life, Jesus “Chuy”, on Wednesday, the 23rd of March 2022 in the comfort of her residence.

Josefa was born 6th of October 1926 in Laredo, Texas, daughter of Raul Tijerina, Sr. and Herlinda Canales Tijerina of Premont, Texas. She met the love of her life at fourteen, Jesus “Chuy” Castellano, and married him during World War II at age seventeen. United in matrimony, Josefa and Chuy welcomed five children: Gloria Moore (Edward), Josie Cappadona (Fred+), Sara Saldana (Enrique), Lucy Castellano (Chris Ludolph), and Joe Michael Castellano (Abigail); fourteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren into their growing family. Their blessed marriage lasted seventy-seven years until his passing only four months ago. Also preceding Josefa in death were her parents, Raul Sr. and Herlinda C. Tijerina; her siblings Eulalia Lozano, Maria Alicia Sanchez, and Raul Tijerina, Jr.; and her grandson, Michael Saldana.

Josefa was fun loving, a jokester, and generous to a fault. She loved to dance and in her youth, assisted her aunts Grace and Tomasa Canales at their dance studio in Premont. One of her favorite pastimes was traveling to numerous states and countries all around the world, which included most of Europe, China, Turkey, New Zealand, South America, Australia, the Panama Canal, Alaska, and numerous cruises. Josefa above all else was a loving wife. She and her husband Chuy were totally devoted to each other and knew they could not live without each other. Josefa was also a wonderful mother who encouraged her children to pursue different interests. She exposed her children to art, music, theater, and dance and she understood the importance of education, instilling in each of her children a fierce independence and strength of character. She was a big proponent of education and a board member of family education scholarships as early as 1950. She was also involved in numerous social clubs and was the director of the Pan American Round Table I of Brownsville. Josefa was instrumental in organizing the Charro Day Costume Review for many years and stored the organizations numerous costumes at her home before they were stored in a museum. She also served in several committees at the state-level. Josefa was treasurer of the International 300 and also was a member of the Sarape Club and the Zultana’s.  She was an avid reader and enjoyed many afternoons with her friends at the Learners Study Club.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, the 28th of March 2022 between the hours of five o’clock in the afternoon and nine o’clock at night, with the recitation of the holy rosary to begin at seven o’clock Monday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at two o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 29th of March 2022 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 1914 Barnard Road, Brownsville. Entombment will follow, via an escorted procession, within the Buena Vista Burial Park Mausoleum, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are her grandsons Fred J. Cappadona III, Justin M. Cappadona, Christopher E. Moore, Jared M. Cuellar, Jose Miguel Castellano II, and Michael Saldana+, and great-grandson, Cayetano Cappadona.

Honorary pallbearers are Tomas Canales, Carlos “Chuck” Tijerina, Dr. Carlos A. Lozano, Raul C. Lozano, Henry Sanchez, David Sanchez, and Luis Sanchez.

In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, please consider donations in her memory to the Jesus M. and Josefa T. Castellano Scholarship Endowment Fund at The University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), 1201 W. University Drive, EITT Bldg., Edinburg, Texas 78539.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Juan Martinez and his wonderful staff; her visiting nurse Elda Garcia, her communicant from St. Mary’s Catholic Church Lydia Gaspar, and her caregivers Catalina Munoz, Maria Morales, Guillermina Nieto, and Cirila Tovar. A special thanks to Mt. Sinai Hospice and their incredible staff.

Memories of Josefa may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.