On June 5, 1928, Jesusita “Chui” Peña Urias was born to parents Cruz Peña Urias and Francisco Urias, delivered at their Fort Stockton, Texas, home by Dr. William Moore. She joined siblings Juan Francisco Urias (born 1917), Jose “Joe” Rodolfo Urias (born 1922), and Diamantina Urias (born 1925). Maria “Mary” Urias was to be born in 1931. Parents and all siblings preceded Jesusita in death. She died on Jan. 19, 2022, in Buda, Texas.

Jesusita was proud that her mother convinced her father to send her and her sisters to college in an era when women were expected to aspire to become homemakers. They attended Sul Ross State University, and all became schoolteachers. Although Jesusita began her career teaching in Galveston, Texas, she moved to California to teach in Bakersfield, where her daughter Monica U. Garcia was born, and then Los Angeles, Calif. She and then husband Abel Garcia returned to their hometown of Fort Stockton in time for their son David U. Garcia to be born.

In Fort Stockton, Jesusita taught thousands of mostly first graders at Butz Elementary, and later Alamo School. Following her mother’s example, she was a devout parishioner of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Jesusita is survived by her daughter Monica of Buda, and son David of Helotes, Texas; and grandchildren Rebecca and Brian Garcia.

The private family funeral will take place on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, beginning with a rosary at 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Fort Stockton, with the funeral mass following at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please donate a gift to Our Lady of Guadalupe.