Luz G. "Lucita" Ruiz

BROWNSVILLE, TX. - Luz G. “Lucita” Ruiz entered into eternal rest on Saturday, the 24th of February 2024 in the comfort of her Brownsville residence surrounded by her family. She was ninety-four years of age.

Lucita was born on July 13, 1929 in Guadalupe Victoria Durango, Mexico, daughter of the late Maria de Refugio Garcia and Francisco Gonzalez. She then came to the United States and resided in Brownsville, Texas for the rest of her life. Some of her hobbies included gardening and tending to her many plants, cooking, and spending time with her family and beloved pets. 

Lucita absolutely loved gardening and tending to her many different types of plants, which she was very knowledgeable about. Her favorite flowers were her roses and her lilies in all colors. You could always find her outside in her plants, whether it be early in the day or later at night, when it wasn’t too hot. She loved cooking and always made my favorite foods often, which she knew I absolutely loved. Her favorite foods to cook were charro beans, roast and potatoes, rice, and chicken salad. She loved spending time outdoors with her dogs and cats. They loved to sit with her while she would talk to them and play fetch with the dogs. Grandma also loved to feed the dogs and hand-feed the cats treats. Her beloved pets were extremely spoiled because of her. Lucita also loved spending time with her family. She was always making sure everyone was well taken care of and no one needed anything. During the holidays, Grandma was known to get everyone together and make the best meals. She loved being with her family and was known for sometimes enjoying a margarita or a beer while sitting outside.  

Grandma and I have the best memories that I will cherish forever. Whether it be outside in the garden and watering the plants, feeding her many birds in her walk-in bird cage, re-planting or re-potting plants, attempting to learn how to cook, baking cookies and cupcakes, playing with the dogs and cats, eating pan dulce and drinking coffee, these are beautiful memories I will remember forever. I will love you forever Grandma Lucita! - Bianca Liliana Tamayo, Lucita’s youngest granddaughter.

Preceding Lucita in death are her parents, Maria de Refugio Garcia and Francisco Gonzalez; her husband of forty-eight years, Santos Ruiz; her son, Jose Trinidad Ruiz; her sister, Maria Gonzalez; and her brothers, Porfirio Gonzalez and Chayo Gonzalez.

Left behind to cherish her memory are her children Sofia Cerbin of Brownsville, Texas, Antonia Pineda of Windom, Minnesota, Yolanda Contreras (John) of Houston, Texas, Roberto Ruiz (Nina) of Los Fresnos, Texas, Maria Ruiz of The Colony, Texas, Graciela Medrano (Juan+) of Brownsville, Texas,  Ana Ruiz of Houston, Texas; Annette Dimitri (Shawn) of Whittington, Illinois, and Blanca Tamayo (Richard) of Brownsville, Texas. She is also survived by fifteen grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by her caring pets, her cat Blossom and her dogs, Lacey, Misty, and Luna.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, the 29th of February 2024 between the hours of two o’clock in the afternoon and nine o'clock at night, with the recitation of the holy rosary to begin at seven o'clock Thursday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ten o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 1st of March 2024 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 2800 Rockwell Drive, Brownsville. Interment will then follow, via an escorted procession, at Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4464 Old Port Isabel Road, Brownsville.

Honored to be her pallbearers are her eight grandsons Robert Ruiz Jr., Charles Pineda, Carlos Ruiz, Juan Medrano II, John Contreras II, Airman Joseph Dimitri, Brennin L. Sweeny, and Harley D. Sweeny. 

The family would like to thank Gentiva Hospice, her doctors, Dr. Rolando Factoriza, Dr. Fadi, Dr. Luis Gaitan, and Dr. Juan Gonzalez.

Memories of Luz 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.