Tirso Cruz

Garcia, Jr.

Tirso Cruz Garcia, Jr. beloved husband, father, Tata, uncle, Godfather and friend passed away peacefully on March 3, 2022, surrounded by his family at the age of 69 years young. Tirso was born in Soto La Marina, Tamaulipas on September 19, 1952, to Tirso Cruz Vega, Sr. and Petronila Garcia Dragustinovis.

He is preceded in death by his son Silvestre Antonio Cruz, his parents, his Compadres Constable Joe F. Cavazos and Ismael Cabrera Olvera.

Tirso lived on a farm with his family and was a very curious child, which often got himself and his older sisters in trouble. The adventures continued into his adult years. The stories he would share with his kids often had them laughing till the tears were rolling.  Tirso never met a stranger, it would easily take him an hour to go buy a gallon of milk. He would stop and talk to everyone always being the life of the party. There was never a boring moment when he was around. Besides his title as husband, Dad or Tata the name his oldest grandson Daniel Antonio had baptized him with. He was also known as Chacho by his family and Don Tirso by friends, but his biggest title was "El Padrino". He was honored to have been a Godfather as he fulfilled request for "Padrinando" quinceñeras and weddings. Compadres that want him to guide their children in the Catholic faith when they fulfilled their sacraments of baptism, communion or marriage.

Tirso graduated with honors from the Tecnológico de Matamoros in 1970. Upon graduating he diligently managed and operated his father's shrimping business till 1981. He then continued the legacy with his own shrimping business named T. Cruz Shrimping Company.

In December of 1979, he met his beloved wife at his grandparents 50 ^th Golden Anniversary. They wed on July 17, 1981. They were blessed with five children, the pride and joy of his life, his eight grandchildren. Of his eight grandchildren, he helped care for four of them from birth till they were ready for Pre-K. He refused to let them go to day care.

Tirso loved conjunto music, dancing polkas, chotizes, and rodovas. He loved cooking for his family and friends. When his daughters in law Jessica and Michelle lived at home with him, he made sure he prepared breakfast tacos for them and Nelda every morning before they left for work. His specialties were carne guisada, pollo en mole and cabrito en sangre. He would buy food containers so he could share his cabrito with his siblings and compadres. He would often prepared special request for his grandkids. It was tortillas de harina for Daniel Antonio, caldo de res and carne guisada for Scarlet and Mexican rice for Rosita's lunch because she just hated school lunches.

Tirso was a strong, kind, loving, and supportive husband, father, grandfather and uncle. His knowledge and guidance were the foundation of his family

Tirso is survived by his wife of 40 years, Nelda Cantu-Cruz. His children Tirso III (Jessica) Cruz, Isaac (Michelle) Cruz, Daniel (Monica) Cruz, and Melissa (Andrew) Tamayo. Grandchildren: Daniel Antonio, Scarlet Sarai, Isaac Zachari, Penelope Rose, Yulissa Raquel, Katherin Olivia, Alexandra Marie, Tirso Cruz García IV, Alejandro, Benjamín, Catalina Rodríguez. Also surviving him is a niece and nephews which he considered as his own children Perla (Bulmaro) Galan, their children Linda (Tony), Xavier, Mayalis, Sergio Ismael Amaya, Sr (Maria), their children Rosa Maria, Esmeralda, Xavier, Juan Antonio, Sergio, Jr.  and Michael Amaya his children Sofia, Ruby, and Christopher.

In addition, surviving him are his siblings: Hilda (Guillermo +) Tabasco, Rosalva (Ernesto +) Zarate, Genovevo Cruz García, Ovidio (Guadalupe) Cruz García, María de Jesús (Arnulfo) Reyes, Sergio (Eva) Cruz Rivera, Saul (Marisa) Cruz Rivera, Esteban (Abigail) Cruz Rivera, Baldo (Blanca) Cruz Rivera, Mario (María) Cruz Rivera, Isabel (Javier) Martínez, Sister-in-Law Belia Amaya, his madrina Cynthia Ríos, numerous aunts, uncles, newphews, nieces and his neighbors Judy & Juan, Julian & Clarissa and Norma and her daughter Nita.

A mi esposo, nuestro padre, nuestro Tata y nuestro tío

Te amamos más de lo que las palabras podrían decir. Faltará para siempre un pedazo de nuestro corazón. Tu amor era incondicional, y tus abrazos podían curarlo todo. No habrá un día que pase que no te extrañemos. No estamos seguros de cómo pasar por esta vida sin ti, pero nos enseñaste a nunca rendirnos y a seguir luchando y eso es exactamente lo que haremos. Te amamos con todo nuestro corazón siempre y para siempre.

Tu familia

Visitation will be held Monday, March 7, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with the prayer of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Trinity Funeral Chapel of the Holy Spirit.

Funeral mass of Christian burial will be held Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Teresa Catholic Church in San Benito.

Interment will follow to Mont Meta Memorial Park Cemetery in San Benito, Texas.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Trinity at Harrison Funeral Home 1002 East Harrison Avenue Harlingen, Texas 78550 (956)364-2444. www.trinityfunerals.com