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Luz Juanita “Janie” S. Cortez passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, June 21, 2024. She is preceded in death by her parents, Marcelino & Luz Cortez; her siblings: Rosa C. Longoria, Enrique Cortez, Maria Garcia, Guadalupe Munoz, Rebecca Uribe, Refugio Cortez, Isabel Cortez & Rafael Cortez; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is survived by her 97 yr old brother, Jose “Tio Chale” Cortez, her niece/Guardian Debra L. Rivas, Jo Anne Perez, great-nephews Alex Rivas & Chris Rivas, numerous nieces and nephews, Sisters in Christ & friends. Luz was a long-life member of the St. Henry’s Catholic Church. She participated in numerous events and ministries. She also volunteered annually for the Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner event. She enjoyed preparing and serving the coffee to the community for this event. In 1961, she became part of the Society of the Missionary Catechists of Divine Mercy. Due to her mom’s health condition, Luz began working for the University Health System as a Cashier at the original Brady Clinic downtown. She retired after working there for 30 years. In 2005, she received the City of San Antonio Outstanding Senior Volunteer Certificate from Mayor Hardberger. She completed her Auto Mechanics for Women course from the NEISD in 1978. She also received the Catholic Center for Charismatic Renewal Archdiocese of San Antonio Certificate in Completed Course for Becoming an Evangelist in 1983 by Rev. Edna McKenna at St. Henry’s Catholic Church. Luz was also a proud graduate from the San Antonio Vocational & Technical School (Fox Tech High School) in May of 1959. Her hobbies included playing in bowling leagues with her UHS co-workers. In the last 6 years of my Tia’s life, she joined and served with us at several church ministries along with my mom, Rosa. They were both known as the twins (there’s a story behind that, lol). Tia, along with mom, enjoyed the company and love they received from all their Sisters in Christ from St. Margaret Mary’s Women of the Well, Holy Family Women of the Well, Girls Night Out with Jesus GNOWJ, St. James Project Hannah & Mission San Jose Teen ACTS. She enjoyed all the Senior Citizens dance events hosted by Gonzaba Medical Group, traveling to Kickapoo Casino, she loved playing BINGO & Loteria, she volunteered yearly at her church festivals, she enjoyed making and selling cascarones, selling at the Flea Markets, she loved dancing to all types of music with her sister and she volunteered to deliver Easter Baskets and Christmas gifts to children battling cancer in the hospital. Luz “Janie” Juanita S. Cortez gave and left us great memories. My family & I were honored to care for her. She will be dearly missed by family members and friends. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. at the Alamo Funeral Chapels. On Friday, June 28, 2024, a funeral procession will depart the funeral home at 9:30 a.m. for a 10:00 a.m. mass at St. Henry's Catholic Church with the burial to follow at San Fernando cemetery #2. Serving as pallbearers will be: Chris Rivas, Jerry Longoria, Jo Anne Perez, Larry Cortez, David Cortez, and Emilio Munoz.

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Luz Juanita S. Cortez

November 16, 1939 - June 21, 2024