A Lasting Tribute to Juanita Lopez- Saldaña
Juanita Lopez-Saldaña, a Nederland, TX resident for 48 years, passed away Sunday, May 11, 2008 at the DUBUIS Hospital in Beaumont, Texas.
Juanita was born November 24, 1934 and was 73 years of age.
She attended the Port Arthur Public Schools and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in May 1953.
She entered Hotel Dieu School of nursing in August 1953 and graduated from nursing school in June 1956.
She received her Registration in Nursing (RN) in August 1956.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Francisco Sr, and Basilia C Lopez.
Early in her career, Juanita was employed at St. Mary’s Hospital, Port Arthur, TX.. Juanita worked as a volunteer and substitute nurse for the NISD, and worked as a staff nurse at the then, Mid-Jeff County Hospital in Nederland, TX. She retired December 1994 from the Jefferson County Health Department, where she was employed as a Public Health Nurse.
Juanita loved all religions and churches. She especially loved her church, St. Charles Catholic Church in Nederland, TX, and was very much involved in its ministries. She served on the Hospital Communion and Hospital visitation ministries, and devoted some of her time to the quilting program as well.
Juanita and her husband Louis served as interpreters with the Trinity United Methodist Church in Beaumont on several mission trips to Costa Rica and Mexico.
She took a very active part in community programs. She was a past member of the PILOTS Int’l Club and busied herself during Nederland’s Heritage Festival by working in the “Strawberry Shortcake” concession stand for this organization. She was a founding member and volunteer mom for the Nederland American Little League in Nederland and sewed and patched many uniforms for the Little Leaguers. She helped distribute baseball equipment as well.
Juanita was proud of her Mexican heritage. She was a former member of the Mexican Heritage Society in Port Arthur, TX, and was active in this organization for over twenty-five years.
Juanita was an active member of the Port Neches, TX Extension Club program and managed to sell many pounds of pecans for this organization’s annual major fund raiser. She served as a Board of Director for the Beaumont Enterprise Empty Stocking Christmas Program and participated in the interview and toy distribution programs as well.
Juanita’s legacy lives in her education efforts of her children and the many other children she has helped to educate. “We have to help children get educated; it’s the only way they can make it in this world”, she said.
She was very active in the PTA, Band programs, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scout programs while her children attended Nederland schools.
Juanita loved education and was instrumental in contributing and funding scholarships at Texas A&M University, College Station, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX., Lamar Port Arthur and LIT in Beaumont.
Her generosity and contributions extended into Mexico to benefit HOGAR IFANTIL, an orphanage located in Ocusuqualto, Chiapas Mexico and EL JARDIN DE LOS NINOS located in Guatemala, Guatemala. Juanita and her husband Louis traveled to Chiapas, Mexico to attend the 35th anniversary of HOGAR INFANTIL in 2001. There she was introduced to many of the children she had supported in early years, now grown and in professional careers, who had benefited from her generosity.
A two time cancer survivor herself, Juanita believed in helping eradicate cancer and willingly contributed funds for this effort to The Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research in Houston, The MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, St. Jude’s Children Hospital in Memphis, TN and the Julie Roger’s “Gift of Life Program” in Beaumont, TX. In 2006 Juanita and Louis were honored as volunteers of the year for the “Gift of Life” program. Juanita was a contributor and supporter to St. Luke’s Children Hospital in Houston, The Shriners Burn Institute in Galveston and Cal Farley’s Boys and Girls Ranch, Amarillo, TX. She was generous and thankful she could help.
She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed all sports. Most of all she enjoyed the football games at Texas A&M while two of her sons were members of The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.
Juanita enjoyed traveling and “seeing God’s beautiful work” while seeing many parts of the world. During her travels, she would often say, “God is so good!”
She cherished the Mayan Riviera of Mexico. She and Louis often included friends and family on their many swimming and snorkeling trips to the riviera’s blue-turquoise waters. She loved to take cruises to this region. She loved the colonial splendor Oaxaca, Oaxaca Mexico and San Cristobal las Casas, Chiapas in interior southern Mexico.
Juanita lived and loved life to its fullest. After fulfilling their duties as Spanish translators on a mission trip, she and Louis went white water rafting in Costa Rica. She also traveled to England in 1996, while Louis was there on business.
Closer to home, Juanita treasured her home state of Texas. She enjoyed the yearly trips to the April “Fiestas” celebrations in San Antonio. She enjoyed camping and hiking Texas’ many state parks, but enjoyed Garner State Park’s cypress lined Frio River the most.
Outside of Texas, she traveled throughout the United States and enjoyed the snow capped peaks of Colorado the best.
Juanita was an avid and accomplished seamstress. She made and sewed many dresses and costumes for her daughters, granddaughters and nieces and other youngsters. She was especially busy during the Port Arthur Fiesta celebrations, stitching many Mexican folklorico dance costumes.
Juanita demonstrated her love for life in her flower garden. She thought of gardening as God’s handiwork.
Juanita is survived by her husband Louis. Louis and Juanita celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary on February 17, 2008.
She is also survived by her eight children: Michael and wife Wendy Saldaña, Nederland, TX.; Dr. Theresa Falcon and husband Michael Falcon, Huffman, TX; Mark and wife Cindy Saldaña, Lufkin, TX; Martha and husband Billy Russell, Lufkin, TX; Thomas Saldaña, Webster, TX; John Saldaña and partner Marcell Vargas, San Antonio, TX; Margarite Saldaña Moreno, Downingtown, PA; and Stephen Saldaña, Corpus Christi, TX.; and by eleven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Other survivors include: sister, Susana Vara of Nederland, TX., brother Nick and wife Mutzi Lopez, Port Arthur, TX.; brother, Frank and wife Erin Lopez, Port Arthur, TX.. Uncle, Ben and wife Margaret DeLaCruz, Nederland, Uncle, Arthur and wife Mendina DeLaCruz, Groves; aunt,Ofelia Galvan, Groves, aunt, Minerva Ortiz, Port Arthur, Tony Ramirez, Sr. uncle, Port Arthur and aunt Connie DelaCruz, Nederland. Several nieces, nephews and cousins. Also survived by Louis’ brothers: John Anthony, Albert and Richard Saldaña and sisters: Antonia Costilla, Ruby Gonzalez, Elena Guerrero, Josephine Blake and Anna Saldaña; and an uncle, Gilbert and wife Lupe Saldaña from Beaumont.
The Saldaña family gives many special thanks to the doctors, nurses and other medical personnel who attended to Juanita at MHBH Beaumont, TX and the DUBUIS Hospital in Beaumont, TX. during this very difficult period. We also wish to thank everyone for all their prayers, cards, well wishes and concern during this most difficult time. They also thank the many ministers who visited and offered their prayers and support for Juanita.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Gift of Life program, Beaumont, TX.; The Stehlin Foundation, Houston; MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston; HOGAR INFANTIL, Mexico; JARDIN de LOS NINOS, Guatemala; St Jude Children’s Hospital, Memphis, TN, St Charles Catholic Church in Nederland.
Visitation will be Wednesday, May 14, at Broussards Funeral Home in Nederland, TX from 4 PM to 6 PM and at St Charles Catholic Church from 7 PM to 9 PM. A rosary will be recited at 7:30 PM.
A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Charles Catholic Church, Nederland, TX on Thursday, May 15 at 10:00 AM.
Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery, Highway 69 North, Nederland.
Charitable Donation Information for Juanita Saldana
Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Program
Donate by mail
Checks (with donation form) can be mailed to:
Julie Rogers "Gift of Life" Program
PMB #46, 148 S. Dowlen Road
Beaumont, TX 77707
Donate by telephone
(409) 839-8399
(409) 877-720-4438 (toll-free)
Hogar Infantil
David Guinn
Post Office Box 7049
Salem, Oregon 97303-0031
The Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research
Robert Anderson - Executive Director
1315 St. Joseph Parkway, Suite 1818
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 659-1336
Jardin de Ninos San Jeronimo Emiliani
Hermana Isolina Barrientos
14 Avenida 1-72, Zone 1
Guatemala, C.A. 251-2101
Phone: 011-502-251-2101
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
By Telephone (713) 792-3450 or 1-800-525-5841
By Mail (Donation form needed)
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
P. O. Box 4486
Houston, Texas 77210-4486
Online
www.mdanderson.org
St. Jude’s Children
Donate by phone
Make a donation by calling 1-800-873-6983, Monday - Friday, from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central time. If you reach us after business hours, please leave a message and we will return your call the next business day.
For mail donations, print the donation form and mail it along with your gift to:
Memorial and Honor Program
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105
For fax donations, print the donation form and fax it to:
Memorial and Honor Program
Fax: (901) 578-2805
Online
www.stjude.org
