Graciela Garcia Vallejo

February 15, 2017

McAllen - Graciela Garcia Vallejo, 87, passed away on February 15, 2017, at the McAllen Medical Center surrounded by close family members. Graciela was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin, aunt, elementary school teacher, and friend to many. She was born in 1929 in the Rio Grande Valley to Esteban Garcia, Sr. and Salome Izaguirre. She was proud to be a graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in elementary education that she obtained in 1959. Graciela also met her husband, Rolando Vallejo, while she attended the university and they were married for over 58 years. She lived most of her life in McAllen. She was deeply devoted to her family and radiated beauty and warmth to all. Her great joy in life was being surrounded by and teaching young children. She spent many years teaching children of migrant farm workers. She was also very artistic and expressed her creativity through ceramics, sewing, and jewelry-making. Graciela is preceded in death by her young son, "Tito," Rolando Vallejo, Jr., who died due to leukemia and three siblings, Esteban Garcia II, Alicia Martinez, and Marica Peck. She is survived by her husband Rolando Vallejo, son Luis Vallejo, two daughters Melissa Vallejo and Sandra Vallejo Ethridge, and three grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Viola Garza and Alma Coplen. Graciela's legacy of love, warmth, kindness, and respect will be carried on by her family. Visitation and rosary will be held from 6 to 8 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2017 at Kreidler Funeral Home, 314 N. 10th Street, McAllen. Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m., Monday, February 20, 2017, at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, 1108 West Hackberry Avenue, McAllen. Interment will follow at Roselawn Cemetary, 1201 S. Main St., McAllen. Graciela's family suggest that any memorial contributions be made to the Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation. Donations can be made on-line at vanniecook.org or by calling the Laura Ilgun at 956-687-5146.