Hector Issasi Casares
Hector Casares Obituary
"If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord..." (Romans 14:8)
Hector Issasi Casares, retired Police Sergeant, 94, of Brownsville, Texas, passed
away peacefully in his loving caregivers’ home, Lupita Ramirez and her family, and Hector's eldest daughter, Norma Casares Rathgaber and her husband Ron at his bedside, in Oceanside, California. Hector was born February 20, 1919, in Pharr, Texas, and went to be with The Lord on April 19, 2013.
Hector enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 when World War II began. He received two Purple Hearts for his bravery in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. During his service in the Army, he received a high school education, and after the war he returned to the United States to marry his life-long love, Inez Zuniga Casares, in November 1945. In 1995, they joyfully celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. After the war, Hector became a dispatcher for the Weslaco Police Station, and in 1952, he became a police officer with the Brownsville Police Force, retiring in 1984 after 32 years of dedicated service. During his service as a police sergeant, he developed and ran his own pest control business and named it NydNad Pest Control. After retiring from the police force, Hector organized a musical band he named "Los Preferidos," and he played at weddings, parties, and various other events.
Hector was one of 14 children born to Nicolas and Sarita Casares. Twelve of those children have preceded Hector in death except for one brother, Nico Casares, who was also his best friend, and is now the "last man standing," as Tio Nico's loving
daughter, Rose Khan, worded it recently. Hector was preceded in death by his wife, Inez Casares, in November 12, 2000, and his grandchildren, Aldo Ramirez in 1998, and Alizi Ramirez, in 1995, children of Norma (Casares) Rathgaber. He will forever be remembered by his devoted and beloved children, Norma (Ron) Rathgaber, Nydia (David) Aitkenhead, Nadia Casares, and Aaron Hector (Libby) Casares, and his treasured grandchildren, Lonnie Barrientes, Lilly Barrientes, Diandra Casares, and Austin Aaron Casares, along with a gem of a great granddaughter, Amanda Ramirez, daughter of Aldo Ramirez, and great grandson, Ivan Alonso Barrientes. Hector made countless friends and numerous relatives who were blessed to know him.
Hector enjoyed lisening to various kind of music. He started playing the harmonica when he was five years old, a gift from his father, and grew up to become the "King of the Harmonica in the Rio Grande Valley." Hector, was also known and will always be remembered for his most unique sense of humor and gift of storytelling. Although his parting is difficult for all who love him, the memories of how he made us laugh will carry us through in the fondest of all remembrances.
Visiation will be held today, Thursday April 25, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a eulogy to be read at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday at Holy Family Catholic Church 240 E. Tyler. Interment will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park. Military Honors will be conducted by the VFW post 2035 under the direction of Luis Lucio.
Funeral Arrangements are under the care of Garza Memorial Funeral Home, 1025 E. Jackson St. Brownsville, TX 78520, (956) 542-5511.
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