Submitted by
Ken Gates
Ernestine
(Garcia) Dominguez
Ernestine Dominguez passed away
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, after a short battle with cancer. A Mass in
commemoration of Nana's life will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at St.
Francis Catholic Church 301 Jefferson, in Waco, followed by interment at the
China Spring Cemetery. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at
Kerens Presbyterian Church.
"Nana," as she was
known by all who knew and loved her, was born Nov. 9, 1927, in Marlin, one of
eleven children born to Joe and Dolores Garcia. Only days before her death, she
had celebrated her 81st birthday surrounded by loved ones, with whom she had
shared a lifetime of unconditional love and abundant support as well as her
legendary tortillas. She married the light of her life, Tommy Dominguez, on
Sept. 17, 1945, at Saint Francis Catholic Church in Waco. They settled in rural
China Spring, and together raised five natural born children.
Nana mothered many others not
born to her, but loved as her own. She raised some of her "adopted"
children from infants, and others came into her life as older children and
adults. All were welcomed at her kitchen table and into her open arms and
heart. She was "Everybody's Nana" and we will all miss her. Her
children were her joy in life and are her legacy in death. Nana and Tommy built
a household where education was a priority, and life was filled with learning
opportunities. Hard work was valued and plentiful. Nana treasured her rich
cultural heritage, passed its traditions down to her children, even when it was
not a popular notion to do so. The she made was warm and loving. She
taught her children by her example, to respect themselves and each other, to
pick their battles and to be the warm individuals they each are, today. Her
last months were filled with the familiar sounds of her children, again, by her
side cooking for her; teasing her; letting her win at checkers; taking one last
day trip to Stranger, Texas, where she went to grade school; laughing at times
and crying at times. All doing what they could to make Nana happy. Visiting and
caring for her during her last days were some of her most grateful
"adopted grandchildren," Nichole Anderson and her brother, Nicholas
Green, as well as their mother, Mary Brewer, Coy Brewer and Erv Bonhakowski
whose support was greatly appreciated.
Nana was preceded in death by her
parents; her young son, Roman; and her beloved husband of 54 years, Tommy
Dominguez.
She is survived by three
daughters, Mary Ann Higgins and husband, Bill and Cathline Dominguez, all of
China Spring, and Hope Dominguez-Reese and her husband, the Rev. Charles Reese
of Kerens, Texas; one son, Joe Anthony Dominguez and wife, Winnie of San
Antonio; two grandchildren, Christina Higgins-Ratcliff and her husband, Reagan
and Tommy Higgins and his wife, Courtney; two well loved great-grandsons, Isaac
Higgins and Jacob Ratcliff; and all of Nana's "adopted children" were
no less important to her but are not named individually here for fear of
unintentionally leaving someone out. You know who you are and you know that
Nana loved you. We are comforted in our knowledge that Nana is once again with
Tommy, with Roman, with her family and friends who have gone before her and
most importantly to her, with her Lord. We are confident that she will be
guided safely to heaven by Our Lady of Guadalupe, who we are equally sure will
continue to travel with each of us on every trip we take thanks to Nana.
Donations in lieu of flowers may
be made to Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 2269 CR 1703, Malakoff, TX
75148; Kerens Presbyterian Church, 301 South E. 3rd Kerens, TX 75144 or Caritas
of Waco.