Isabel Garza

STERLING-Isabel O. Garza, 86, of Sterling, died peacefully with her family around her on Friday December 20, 2024, at Generations at Neighbors Bryon, Illinois. Isabel was born on July 8 , 1938 in Matamoros, Tamaulipas Mexico, the daughter of Porfirio and Guadalupe Ortiz. She married Frank Garza on Sept. 6, 1960 in Harlingen, Texas. 

   Isabel was a homemaker. Isabel worked for Borg Warner for many years. She also was a Teacher Assistant at Washington Elementary in Sterling, Illinois. She obtained an Associates degree from Sauk Valley Community College. Isabel was an avid crocheter, and she loved to travel. She loved chocolate, sweets, margaritas, playing card games, and going to the slots! She loved to dance. Isabel and her late husband could dance so smoothly and glide across the dancefloor to Cumbia music and they were awesome to watch! She made the best cinnamon cake, tortillas, and the most amazing tamales. She was a great cook and loved teaching her kids how to cook. Her most favorite thing to do was to be around all of her family. Family was everything to her!

   Survivors include, five daughters, Hilaria Garza and Connie Garza of Sterling, Cathy (Stan) Allen of Princeton, Denise (Grant) Snow of Walnut, and Mimi (Tim) White of Dixon; six sons, Frank Garza Jr., Daniel (Anji) Garza, George Garza, Fabian Garza, Lisa Delgado, Rey (Amber) Garza,  Carlos (Anna Juarez) Garza, all of Sterling; two sisters Irma (Bob) Widrick of Houston, Tina (Oscar) Garcia of Kansas; four brothers Porfirio (Nena) Ortiz of Mexico, Joel (Lupita) Ortiz of Kansas, Benjamin (Maria) Ortiz of Georgia, Antonio Ortiz of Virgina; 38 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; and 25 great-great-grandchildren. 

   She was preceded in death by her parents Porfirio and Guadalupe Ortiz of Texas; husband, Frank Garza; two sons Gustavo Rodriguez and Joel Garza; two daughter in laws Vicky (Oviat) Rodriguez and  Rosemary Garza; two grandsons, Vaughn Sharp, Brandon Snow; one granddaughter Danielle Garza; one great-great-grandson, Kashius Hitchcock; three sisters Connie Blake of Virgina, Noemi (Mimi) Martinez of Kansas, Theodora Ponce of Illinois; two brothers Ismael Ortiz of Kansas, Ruperto Ortiz of Illinois.

 Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 AM Saturday, Dec. 28, at St. Mary Church, Sterling. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Sterling. Visitation will be 5PM to 8PM Friday December 27, 2024  at Schilling Funeral Home, Sterling. 

A memorial has been established.

Condolences may be sent to www.schillingfuneralhome.com