Jovita Vargas

Jovita Guzman Vargas, 69, went Home to be with her Lord on December 19, 2022

Jovita was born in Mercedes, Texas and the family traveled a lot to follow migrant work. She was a mean girl and always picked on Tia Olga, but also turned to her for advice. Tia Olga was always encouraging, but Jovita was mad because she had her nails cut so that she couldn’t scratch her any more. No matter what, Jovita loved all her siblings. About the age of 15, Jovita married and left home, continuing to follow the migrant worker trade. While working with Brazos Transit, she always got up early and made breakfast tacos for her co-workers, those she particularly liked, and some customers.

A devout Catholic, Jovita went to church faithfully and hated when her family missed services. She was a compassionate, funny, and straight forward lady with a great sense of humor, but was also impatient. She was always willing to help others, loved cooking, shopping, fishing, playing the lottery, going to casinos, and to Corpus Christi with her kids, as well as football gatherings at her home or at her sister’s house. She looked forward to celebrating her own birthday every year because it was on Valentine’s Day. She collected frogs and wind chimes and loved plants and angels.

She was always working, taking care of family, and teaching everyone to respect their elders. Having dropped out of school during sixth grade, she determinedly received her GED in her 40’s. She reminded her children to finish school and live a better life than she had so they wouldn’t have to suffer and struggle. She will be remembered for saying, “Two wrongs don’t make a right”, “No fighting”, and “You have two things to do: enojarse o conformarse”. 

Jovita always looked up to her brother-in-law Joe, as he was the next best thing to having a father for her children since she was raising them alone. Joe treated her children like his own and was always checking in on them. She always adored her brother in law, Joe Garcia.

Jovita was preceded in death by her parents, Jose M. and Filomena M. Guzman, and her son, Henry Ramirez.

Her surviving children are John G. Ramirez and Maria; Diana G. Duran and Dirk E.; Fay R. Almuina and Allen Michael Ray; and Jacob G. Ramirez. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Sabastian, Faith, and John Ruben Ramirez (John G. Ramirez); Joseph S.D., Mark E., Samantha E., and Myah R. Duran (Diana Duran); Thomas J. Jr., Shane, Beth Ann, James N., and Aston Castillo (Fay Almuina); and Jacob G. Jr., Carlos A., and Nicolas A. Ramirez (Jacob Ramirez); great-grandchildren, Thomas J. Castillo III, Anthony R. Castillo, and Fabian A. Castillo; and siblings, Elva Rodriquez, Janie Guzman, Olga DelaCruz and Loui, Elvira Garcia and Joe, Marty Guzman, and Ester Guzman