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Rhonda Burt Pagel passed away at the age of 58 on Friday, June 13th in St. Hedwig, TX. She sadly lost her battle to cancer. In true Rhonda fashion, she faced her cancer diagnosis with humor and strength while putting everybody around her at ease as she began her battle. Rhonda was born to William “Bill” and Lillian “Lillie” Burt on December 17, 1966 at the Santa Rosa Hospital Downtown in San Antonio, TX. Rhonda graduated from John F Kennedy Highschool in 1985 and immediately went into the workforce. She worked at Data Point before starting a career in the mortgage title field. She began this career path with First American Title in Seguin, TX then went on to work for USAA. When she passed, she was currently working for Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union as a Mortgage Closing & Funding Manager. She was loved and respected by everyone she worked with. In the early years of Rhonda’s career, she met Darren Pagel. She had a love of horses and horseback riding. This led her to join trail rides throughout San Antonio and as fate would have it, a trail ride is where she would meet her future husband. As their love blossomed, they began building their life together and settled down on a large piece of property in St. Hedwig, TX. On April 10, 1999 she officially became part of the Pagel Family. Rhonda loved animals. She loved having dogs, horses and donkeys roaming on her property. She also enjoyed spending time on her porch and watching her animals do what they do best. She loved entertaining friends and family during holidays, special occasions and “just because” at her home. She also loved giving her brother a hard time. William fondly calls her his mentor, tormentor, and protector. She loved to pick on him and then would teach him how to protect himself all in the name of sisterly love. Rhonda loved being an aunt. She was the fun Aunt who loved to take her nieces and nephew and their families to Schlitterbahn Waterpark every year. It became an annual summer tradition that everyone looked forward to because they got to spend quality time together. Not only was that annual tradition fun for her but she loved to travel anywhere she could. Her and Darren loved taking cruises together and flying to various fun places for Snap On conventions. Most recently though, Rhonda and William enjoyed a trip to Gulf Shores, AL during Spring Break. They travelled with Rhonda’s friend, Carol and her son, Jake. They also took their niece, Sara, on her first plane ride and had a blast. Rhonda was the anchor of the family. She always spearheaded our holiday plans, vacations, and trips. And she was good at it! She knew how to find a way to accommodate most everyone so that we could all enjoy ourselves. Rhonda was preceded in death by her father, William “Bill” Burt and then her mother, Lillian “Lillie” Burt. Rhonda is survived by her loving husband, Darren Pagel, brother, William Burt, sister in law, Debbie Rettko, sister and brother in law, Donna and Daniel Pennington, brother in law, Daniel Pagel, brother and sister in law, David and Michele Pagel, niece, Sara Pagel. She is also survived by all of her “bonus” nieces and nephews as well as countless friends. Rhonda was affectionately known as Aunt Rhonda to all of her friend’s children. Her love, humor, sarcasm, determination, dedication, and trip planning will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved her. Rest in Eternal Peace Rhonda, till we meet again! Visitation will be held on Saturday June 28, 2025 from 1pm – 4pm at Mission Park Funeral Chapel South located at 1700 SE Military Dr., San Antonio, TX 78214.

Tributes

Rhonda Pagel

December 17, 1966 - June 13, 2025