Raquel Garza Jonon obituary – Austin American statesman

Raquel Garza Jonon died on Wednesday October 5, 2022 at the age of 83. She was born on May 10, 1939 in San Antonio, Texas to Samuel Borrego Garza and Anita Gonzalez Garza, the second oldest of their 12 children.

She grew up in San Antonio and as a child her teachers would punish students for speaking Spanish instead of English. That was perhaps partly why she studied languages ​​and became a bilingual educator.

She married Jack Jonon and lived in Carrollton, Texas where they had 5 daughters and several dogs. Before the birth of her fifth child, she enrolled at Texas Woman’s University and received her BA and BS degrees in 1983. She continued her language studies at TWU, especially Spanish, and received her master’s degree in 1985.

After a short career in the real estate industry, she was ready to switch to teaching.

In 1987 she moved to Austin, Texas, where she began teaching as a first grade ESL teacher at Blackshear Elementary. After moving to South Austin, she transferred to Covington Middle School, where she taught Spanish and French. She was also a tennis coach (assisted by Jack) and taught an after-school cooking class. One year she took some of her students on a trip to Mexico. On a visit to Chichén Itzá, some of the local vendors found out that she was a teacher and asked her a question about reading. Right there on the stairs, she spontaneously started an English lesson. Before retiring, she returned to Blackshear Elementary as an ESL teacher where her true passion was helping young children learn the skills to read and write so they can continue to pursue their dreams. Her dedication was widely appreciated and during the 2002-2003 school year she was recognized as a semi-finalist for the AISD Teacher of the Year award.

She was an incredibly talented craftswoman and could sew, crochet, knit, quilt, weave and needle beautiful things. She raised five strong women and passed on that love of art. She is survived by these daughters: Margaret Buford (Robert), Diane Jonon, Denise Jonon (Den), Frances Jonon (Mike), Sylvia Jonon (Eddie). She is also survived by granddaughters Elena and Julia, who affectionately named her Nana.

Her husband Jack precedes her in death.

We love you mom and we will keep trying to perfect the tamale recipe.

There will be a visitation and celebration of life worship on Friday, October 21, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. at the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home (2620 S. Congress Ave.).

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the Austin Humane Society at austinhumanesociety.org.