June 23, 1920 - May 18, 2014

Juanita Pineda Gaitan Lara, 93, of San Angelo passed away on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at a local care center. 

Mass will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church in Sterling City. Burial will follow in the Sterling City Cemetery under the direction of Robert Massie Funeral Home. 

Juanita was born June 23, 1920 in San Angelo, TX to Eusebio Pineda and Genoveva Pineda. She was raised by her father Eusebio Pineda in Sterling City, Texas. She was named after San Juan a Catholic Saint. Her father, who was a musician, would serenade her on her birthday, a memory she always cherished. Juanita had a very limited education due to segregation. She wasn’t allowed anything greater than an elementary level education. 

She married Jose Gaitan and from that union came four children; GilbertGaitan, Bisente Gaitan, Esther Holguin and Joe Gaitan. After 15 years of marriage, she became a widow and the only provider of her four children. Due to her limited education, she had to provide by working two jobs as a dishwasher and a house maid at the only motel in Sterling City. Because of her struggles, she was determined for her children to gain an education so that they could succeed in life. 

Besides her children, she was very passionate about her religion. She was a wonderful cook and baker. On the holidays, it was very important for her to have all of her children and grandchildren together. She would spend hours cooking. Her specialty was tamales, which she was famous for, and would work long hard hours making them to make sure there was plenty for everyone. She loved baking pies and rolls. She had very strong family values which she instilled in her family. 

After her children were grown and being widowed for twenty five years, she married Prudencio Lara, Sr in April 1975. He preceded her in death in April of 1980. Later in life, she developed her own little business selling tamales and Mexican food. She worked at it till her mid 80’s. Her hobbies included gardening, raising chickens and her dogs. 

She had three brothers, Manuel Pineda, Andres Pineda and Valentin Torres and five sisters, Aurora Bernal, Hila Medina, Jesusita Fuentes, Josefina Ramirez, and Pascuala Ramirez who have all preceeded her in death. 

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She truly loved her family and most of all she loved Jesus Christ.