Jose Guadalupe Esparza

Mission - Jose Guadalupe Esparza, November 4, 1931 to January 3, 2024, Our beloved father passed away on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 surrounded by family at Mission Regional Hospital. He battled a short-term illness which unfortunately took his life. Our Father was born in Villa Garcia, Zacatecas to Jesus Esparza and Maria Marcos Candelas. He immigrated to the United States in the 1950’s as part of the Brazero Program. He was grateful for the opportunities that the United States gave him. By the same token he never forgot his family and roots in Mexico. He took us on family Christmas vacations to Aguascalientes and Zacatecas. We were introduced to the religious traditions of putting the nativity scene in the homes, honoring our Virgen de Guadalupe and Las Posadas. He felt it was important that we knew where our ancestors came from, their culture and values. It gave us a sense of self and familial bonds. Our father was a great storyteller and would captivate us with his accounts of his family’s history. Often there was a moral lesson to be learned. He worked for the Barnick Spraying Service for over forty years as an airplane mechanic. He worked for Mr. Ray Barnick, then his son Eddie Barnick and lastly Sherri Barnick. Our family was able to thrive and prosper in part due to this employment. He always spoke fondly of his years of employment and the Barnick family. Our father was an honorable man who loved his children and instilled in them the value of hard work and education. He was a strict but loving father. He was a devout Catholic who prayed the rosary every night. In the last years of his life, he found it hard to attend mass due to his physical condition. None the less he always had candles lit to the Our Lady of Guadalupe and the saints. His faith never faltered. He was married to our beloved mother Lucila Amparo for sixty-three years. They weathered illness, hardships and separation when my mother went into a nursing home. Through it all their love never wavered. Our father is survived by his children Luz Esparza Hinojosa, Jesus Rene ( Berta ) Esparza; Jose Antonio (Virginia) Esparza and Linda ( William ) Beverly. His grandchildren Lissete Muniz, Jose Antonio Esparza; Angelica Esparza; Roberto Esparza, Carlo Hinojosa and Krystal Esparza. He is survived by his siblings Enedina Esparza Zamora, Antonio Rincon; Felicitas Rincon and Pepe Rincon. He was proceeded in death by the love of his life Lucila Amparo Esparza, his parents Jesus Esparza and Maria Marcos Candelas; his siblings Santiago Esparza; Maria de Jesus Rincon Aguilar and Ruben Rincon. We would like to give our heart felt appreciation to his grandson Carlo Hinojosa for taking care of him in the past year and a half. He provided his grandfather with love, care; support and a purpose after the death of our beloved mother. We would also like to thank our cousin Maria de Jesus ( Chuyita) Aguilar for the care and love she gave to our parents for over five years. Honorary Pallbearers are : Jesus Rene Esparza, Jose Antonio Esparza; Jose Antonio Esparza Jr.; Roberto Esparza; Carlo Hinojosa; Joe Garcia; Rolando Hinojosa and William Beverly. The funeral for our beloved Papi is as follows; The viewing will be at Virgil Wilson Funeral Home from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. The Rosary will be at 7:00 pm. The funeral mass will be at 1:00 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Mission. Followed by interment at Our Lord and I Cemetery in Palmview at 2:00 pm.

Jose Guadalupe Esparza

November 4, 1931 - January 3, 2024