Oralia Saenz Canales

Our beloved Mother, Oralia Saenz Canales, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 in McAllen, Texas at the age of 88. She was born in Mier, Mexico to Enrique P. Saenz and Maria A. Gonzales who preceded her in death. At the age of seventeen she met the love of her life, Reynaldo Canales, a medic in the Army, and on April 4, 1947 they were married in Roma, Texas. In 1954 the made Corpus Christi their home where Oralia devoted her time to rearing her four children. She strongly believed that education is the key to success and instilled those values upon her children and grandchildren. Today, she would be very proud to know that six of her ten grandchildren have earned college degrees and the other four are also pursuing to complete their degrees. Oralia became widowed at the age of 42, but she was a strong-willed, independent woman who had determination. Although she did not have a college degree, she had an aptitude in real estate, investing, and managing her finances. She was frugal and believed that “a penny earned is a penny saved.” At the age of 74 Oralia was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and it slowly incapacitated her, but until her death she recognized her family and had a smile for everyone. She was very family oriented and looked forward to all the hugs and kisses from her family. Besides her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her siblings: Jesus Saenz, Jesusa Rodriguez, Irma Saenz, and Diana Saenz. Surviving are her sister Olga Hinojosa of Brownsville, TX and her brother, Juvenal Saenz of Katy, TX. She will be terribly missed by her children: Velma (Arnold) Cantu, Reynaldo Canales, Jr., Alfredo (Lucy) Canales, and Linda Lee Hernandez (Armando); ten grandchildren: Jackie Coates, James Cantu, Jacob Cantu, Freddy Canales, Melody Ferris, Sandy Posada, Adry Canales, Estevan Hernandez, Andres Hernandez, and Matthew Hernandez, and seven great grandchildren: Brandon, Bailey, Miguel, Isabella, Dominic, Tyler and Madelyn. The family will receive condolences on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Treviño Funeral Home, 3006 Niagara St. at Port from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. where a chapel service will commence at 10:30 a.m. Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Park.