Viola "Ganca" Gomez Ruenes

Long time Brownsville resident Viola G. Ruenes, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2012, in San Antonio, Texas after a prolonged illness.

Viola was born in Raymondville, Texas to Maria C. Gomez and Hilario Gomez on July 3, 1922. She married Ramon Ruenes from San Benito, Texas on December 31, 1941. After the war, the young couple moved with their family to Brownsville to raise their children and start their business. Viola and Ramon were the proprietors of the Victoria and Ruenes Drivein Theaters and the operators of the Capitol Theater. From the founding of the first movie theater in 1946, the couple went on to won a chain of movie theaters in the Rio Grande Valley, Corpus Christi, and San Antonio.

Viola enjoyed a long and loving relationship with family and friends and strong ties to the Brownsville community. She was a parishioner of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, and St. Josephs Catholic Church. As a lifelong supporter of both Incarnate WordVilla Maria schools and St. Joseph Academy, Viola formed countless friendships across generational lines. She particularly enjoyed the St. Joe football games and is still remembered for her enthusiastic ringing of a big cow bell at the games. She was an Honorary Member of Conroe Theresians and international organization devoted to St. Therese of the Little Flower.

Viola was known as a caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Family and friends lovingly called her Ganca and will forever remember her for her great smile, happy disposition, quick wit, and huge heart. She never missed an opportunity to be with her friends in happy and sad times. Her loyalty was her hallmark her Faith was the leading light of her life.

Viola was preceded in death by her husband who died in 1985. She is survived by her four children and their spouses: Mary Esther and Bob Gross, Raymond and Miate Ruenes, Larry and Viola S. Ruenes, and Ricky and Carmen Ruenes. Viola had eleven grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren. Monica GrossHendricks and sons Harrison and Christopher Bobby Gross and sons Jordan and Benjamin Raymond Gross and wife Lizette and daughter Camila Ramon Ruenes IV, Alex Ruenes, Gabby Ruenes and wife Heidi, and Maria Helena Ruenes mark Ruenes and wife Mayte and sons Nicholas and Matthew David Ruenes, Rick Ruenes and wife Theresa and daughter Sarah Tricia Ruenes Subbiah and husband Parsanna and son Ian.

Viola is also survived by three siblings: Lalo and Irma Gomez of Raymondville, Margaret Gomez Puente of Raymondville, and Lydia Gomez Rodriguez and her husband Ignacio numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly but she had a special bond with Eduardo Ramon Izaguirre and his wife Chela from McAllen and countless friends.

Visitation will begin today, Friday, October 26, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the East Chapel at DarlingMouser Funeral Home with the recitation of the holy rosary at 7 p.m. this evening. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at St. Josephs Catholic Church, 555 West St. Francis St. Committal services will follow in Raymondville, Texas at Raymondville Memorial Cemetery.

Violas grandsons: Robert Gross II, Raymond Gross, Mark Ruenes, David Ruenes, Rick Ruenes Jr., Ramon Ruenes III, Alex Ruenes, and Gabriel Ruenes are honored to be serving as pallbearers for their beloved grandmother. Honorary pallbearers will be all former employees of the Ruenes Theaters.

Visitation

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Friday, October 26, 2012
3:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Service

Rosary

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Friday, October 26, 2012
7:00 pm

Mass of Christian Resurrection

St. Joseph Catholic Church
555 W. St Francis
Brownsville, TX  78520
Saturday, October 27, 2012
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Raymondville Memorial Park Cemetery
Raymondville, TX  78580