Matilde Ninfa Garza Guillen

BROWNSVILLE, TX. - Matilde Ninfa Garza Guillen, lifelong resident of Brownsville, Texas, was called by her creator on Sunday, the 25th of September 2022, while in the comfort of her Brownsville residence, surrounded by her loving family. She was ninety-four years of age.

Ninfa, as she was affectionately known as, was born in Brownsville, Texas on March 14, 1928, daughter of Adolfo Rodriguez and Guadalupe Zapata Garza. She worked in the retail business for many years at Woolworth’s, where she met the love of her life and future husband Rey, Nisener’s, Gibson’s, and at Mac’s Toys. She ultimately retired from the Brownsville Independent School District as a paraprofessional at J.T. Canales Elementary School.

She was a lifelong, devout Catholic and parishioner of the historic Immaculate Conception Cathedral. For many years, she was also a parishioner of St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Brownsville, Texas where she and her husband Rey served as Hospitality Ministers. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Bishop Adolph Marx Court #1988 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church and was also a past member of the Brownsville Fire Fighters Association Local 970 and the American Legion John Hansen Post No. 43 Ladies Auxiliaries. Ninfa shared her strong faith with her family, friends, and neighbors. Anyone who crossed her path would leave with a blessing. She would often receive calls asking for prayers and blessings which she and her sister Nena graciously provided.

Preceding Ninfa in death was her husband of forty-nine years, Reynaldo Guillen, Sr.; her parents, Adolfo and Guadalupe Garza; her brothers and sisters-in-law Ramon Garza (Queta), Adolfo Garza (Juanita), and Abel Garza, Sr. (Jackie); her sister, Norma Ortiz (Antonio); her brother-in-laws, Guadalupe Ruiz, Sr. and Rogerio Gonzalez, Sr.; and her aunt, Olalla Garza Perales.

Survivors include her sons Reynaldo Guillen, Jr. (Linda Elizabeth), Guillermo “Memo” Guillen (Kathy), Jose Luis Guillen (Kimberley Anson) and her daughter, Cecilia Guillen all of Brownsville, Texas; and her four grandchildren: Courtney Patricia Guillen Ryncarz (Cory) of Silver Spring, Maryland, Janson Coy Guillen of Fort Worth, Texas, Reynaldo Jose Guillen, and Laura Elizabet Guillen, both of Brownsville, Texas. She is also survived by her two sisters, Maria Ruiz of Tyler, Texas and Fidelfa “Nena” Gonzalez of Brownsville, Texas; her uncle, Felix Zapata, Sr.; her cousins Mary Lou Garza Bewley, Minerva Garza Perez, and Yolanda “Yoli” Zapata Calderon; her nephew, Guadalupe Ruiz, Jr., who helped in her care and was raised with her family; in addition to numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, the 29th of September 2022 between the hours of three 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 rosary will be livestreamed and recorded for viewing. This video may be accessed by visiting her obituary tribute page at www.darlingmouser.com.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ten o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 30th of September 2022 at the historic Immaculate Conception Cathedral, 1218 E. Jefferson Street, Brownsville. Interment will then follow, via an escorted procession, at Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4464 Old Port Isabel Road, Brownsville.

Honored to serve as her pallbearers are Reynaldo Guillen, Jr., Guillermo “Memo” Guillen, Jose Luis Guillen, Janson Coy Guillen, Guadalupe Ruiz, Jr., and Jesus Gonzalez.

Honorary pallbearers are Reynaldo Jose Guillen, Rogerio Gonzalez, Jr., Pete Garza, Richard Garza, Cory Ryncarz, Jose L. Rodriguez, Eduardo Nunez, Francisco Rodriguez, Danny Coronado, and Hunter Castro.

In lieu of floral arrangements, the family requests donations in her memory be made to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, 1218 E. Jefferson Street, Brownsville, Texas, (956) 546-3178, www.immaculateconceptioncathedral.org .

A Special Thanks to her provider, Maria Calderon, and her home nurse, Juan Segura, for the care they provided to Ninfa.

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

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.