1944
Ilda
2022
Ilda Vasquez
December 23, 1944 — August 31, 2022
Ilda Vasquez, age 77, went home to be with her Savior, Jesus the Christ on August 31, 2022.
Born on December 23, 1944, in Kennedy, TX. She was the third of six children born to Manuel and Elida Gonzalez. She graduated from Edcouch-Elsa High School in May 1964.
During her high school years, Ilda played clarinet as a member of the Edcouch-Elsa High School Band. She loved sports and excelled at basketball where she was named to the All-District Team her senior year. Friday nights she could be found under those Friday Night Lights cheering on the Mighty Yellow Jackets as a member of the Varsity Cheerleaders. She also held many leadership offices during her high school years.
After graduation, she attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. During the Christmas break of her first year, she came home, and her life would never be the same. She met the love of her life on a blind date, whom her sister, Irma, set up. Little did she know that evening, that Joe Vasquez would be her soulmate for life.
Joe and Ilda were married four months after they met and spent the next 57 wonderful years together. They began their Military life from that moment on. They were stationed in Washington, Texas, Georgia, the Canal Zone of Panama, New Jersey, Korea, and Washington, D.C. During their many tours of duty, she served as Officers Wives Club President on many Army installations. She also hosted numerous high-ranking Officers in their home where she loved being “Hostess with the Mostest!”
After 20 years of service in the United States Army, they returned to the Rio Grande Valley.
Making their home in Weslaco, Ilda immediately got involved in community service. She served the following organizations: Weslaco Junior Service League, Beta Sigma Phi, Weslaco Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, founding member of the Weslaco Youth Football League, Knapp Medical Center Harvest Night Committee, American Cancer Society, Weslaco Nature Center, Weslaco Public Library Board, Weslaco Streetscape Committee, Co-chaired Weslaco’s 75th Birthday celebration in 1994, and the Weslaco Bicultural Museum Board.
In 1999, she was named the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year. And in 2000, Ilda was chosen as one of fifteen “Notable Valley Hispanics” by the University of Pan American Friends of the Library.
Ilda served six years on the Weslaco Independent School District’s Board of Trustees where she served as President, Vice President, and Secretary.
Ilda was a faithful servant of the Lord and dedicated her life to helping others through the work of the United Methodist Women.
This Mission Statement for the United Methodist Women is as follows:
“United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.”
Her love for God was shown by her mother at an early age. As a result, Ilda developed a strong faith in the Lord and a passion to serve in her church.
Ilda held many positions, with such pride, within the United Methodist Women. She lead the First United Methodist Church of Weslaco chapter as President, Southwest Texas United Methodist Women President, South Central Jurisdiction President, and was a Director for the United Methodist Women’s Division.
Upon Joe’s retirement from Knapp Medical Center, they traveled the WORLD! Travels included South America, Central America, the Orient, and Europe! Traveling with them often were life-long friends Juan and Rosie Gutierrez, and Terry and Juli Burgstrom. Oh, the stories and pictures are numerous!
Ilda has lived a tremendous life and would want us to celebrate. She is now rejoicing in that she is finally home with her heavenly father and her beloved son, Chip.
Ilda is preceded in death by her parents Manuel B. and Elida Gonzalez, her sister, Irma Gonzalez, and her son, Chip Vasquez.
She is survived by her loving husband, Joe Vasquez, daughter, Sandy Vasquez, and granddaughter, Isela. Her four siblings: Manuel B. Gonzalez Jr. (Aurora), Eloy Z. Gonzalez (Elma), Inelda Gonzalez (Salvador, DEC), and Eduardo Gonzalez (Linda). Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.
Services for Ilda will be held Sunday, September 4, 2022, from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a Prayer Service at 5:00 PM at McCaleb Funeral Home located 900 W 4th Street in Weslaco, Texas. A church service will be held on Monday, September 5, 2022, at 10:00 AM at First United Methodist Church, Weslaco. Graveside services will be held at Highland Memorial Park in Weslaco, Texas.
The pallbearers will be nephews and close friends of the family.
The family would like to express its sincerest gratitude to Mary Gonzalez, caregiver, Eva Lerma, nurse, Letty Uvalle, CNA, and the United Hospice Service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Methodist Women, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10115.
Funeral Services will be streamed on Facebooklive, https://www.facebook.com/mccalebfuneralhome
Born on December 23, 1944, in Kennedy, TX. She was the third of six children born to Manuel and Elida Gonzalez. She graduated from Edcouch-Elsa High School in May 1964.
During her high school years, Ilda played clarinet as a member of the Edcouch-Elsa High School Band. She loved sports and excelled at basketball where she was named to the All-District Team her senior year. Friday nights she could be found under those Friday Night Lights cheering on the Mighty Yellow Jackets as a member of the Varsity Cheerleaders. She also held many leadership offices during her high school years.
After graduation, she attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. During the Christmas break of her first year, she came home, and her life would never be the same. She met the love of her life on a blind date, whom her sister, Irma, set up. Little did she know that evening, that Joe Vasquez would be her soulmate for life.
Joe and Ilda were married four months after they met and spent the next 57 wonderful years together. They began their Military life from that moment on. They were stationed in Washington, Texas, Georgia, the Canal Zone of Panama, New Jersey, Korea, and Washington, D.C. During their many tours of duty, she served as Officers Wives Club President on many Army installations. She also hosted numerous high-ranking Officers in their home where she loved being “Hostess with the Mostest!”
After 20 years of service in the United States Army, they returned to the Rio Grande Valley.
Making their home in Weslaco, Ilda immediately got involved in community service. She served the following organizations: Weslaco Junior Service League, Beta Sigma Phi, Weslaco Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, founding member of the Weslaco Youth Football League, Knapp Medical Center Harvest Night Committee, American Cancer Society, Weslaco Nature Center, Weslaco Public Library Board, Weslaco Streetscape Committee, Co-chaired Weslaco’s 75th Birthday celebration in 1994, and the Weslaco Bicultural Museum Board.
In 1999, she was named the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year. And in 2000, Ilda was chosen as one of fifteen “Notable Valley Hispanics” by the University of Pan American Friends of the Library.
Ilda served six years on the Weslaco Independent School District’s Board of Trustees where she served as President, Vice President, and Secretary.
Ilda was a faithful servant of the Lord and dedicated her life to helping others through the work of the United Methodist Women.
This Mission Statement for the United Methodist Women is as follows:
“United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.”
Her love for God was shown by her mother at an early age. As a result, Ilda developed a strong faith in the Lord and a passion to serve in her church.
Ilda held many positions, with such pride, within the United Methodist Women. She lead the First United Methodist Church of Weslaco chapter as President, Southwest Texas United Methodist Women President, South Central Jurisdiction President, and was a Director for the United Methodist Women’s Division.
Upon Joe’s retirement from Knapp Medical Center, they traveled the WORLD! Travels included South America, Central America, the Orient, and Europe! Traveling with them often were life-long friends Juan and Rosie Gutierrez, and Terry and Juli Burgstrom. Oh, the stories and pictures are numerous!
Ilda has lived a tremendous life and would want us to celebrate. She is now rejoicing in that she is finally home with her heavenly father and her beloved son, Chip.
Ilda is preceded in death by her parents Manuel B. and Elida Gonzalez, her sister, Irma Gonzalez, and her son, Chip Vasquez.
She is survived by her loving husband, Joe Vasquez, daughter, Sandy Vasquez, and granddaughter, Isela. Her four siblings: Manuel B. Gonzalez Jr. (Aurora), Eloy Z. Gonzalez (Elma), Inelda Gonzalez (Salvador, DEC), and Eduardo Gonzalez (Linda). Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.
Services for Ilda will be held Sunday, September 4, 2022, from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a Prayer Service at 5:00 PM at McCaleb Funeral Home located 900 W 4th Street in Weslaco, Texas. A church service will be held on Monday, September 5, 2022, at 10:00 AM at First United Methodist Church, Weslaco. Graveside services will be held at Highland Memorial Park in Weslaco, Texas.
The pallbearers will be nephews and close friends of the family.
The family would like to express its sincerest gratitude to Mary Gonzalez, caregiver, Eva Lerma, nurse, Letty Uvalle, CNA, and the United Hospice Service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Methodist Women, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10115.
Funeral Services will be streamed on Facebooklive, https://www.facebook.com/mccalebfuneralhome
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ilda Vasquez, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Sunday, September 4, 2022
2:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
McCaleb Funeral Home
Guestbook
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors