Obituary of Manuel Sosa

Manuel Sosa, 94, passed away Friday, June 2, 2017, in San Benito, TX.

Manuel Sosa was born to Petra Alaniz and Arturo Sosa on May 2, 1923 in San Fernando Tamaulipas, Mexico. He came to the United States in 1940 at the age of 17 residing in the Rio Grande Valley for the majority of his life. 

Manuel married the love of his life Maria Candelaria Muñoz and they had seven children. He became a widower in 1958. In spite of facing many obstacles as a single parent with no formal education and not speaking English, Manuel was able to support his family by working as a farm laborer. 

In 1963 he migrated to Colorado with his children and worked as a farm hand and tended fields until 1968. Throughout the early 1970‘s he and his family continued to migrate back and forth between Texas, Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska and Florida working for various farms such as Bob Sakata Farms in Brighton, CO, The Thomae Family in San Benito,TX, and Charles Armstrong to name a few.  

In the early 1980’s he remained in the Rio Grande Valley until he retired at the age of 62. Manuel then joined his children for several years in Colorado before moving back to San Benito, TX where he lived with his eldest daughter until his death at the age of 94 on June 2, 2017. 

Manuel is preceded in death by his mother Petra Alaniz, his father Arturo Sosa, his wife Maria Candelaria Muñoz Sosa . Four brothers Jose Paredes, Pedro Paredes, Indalesio Paderes, and Santiago Paredes. Two sisters. Felicidad Paredes and Narcissa Paredes-Treviño and one Great Grandchild Jermiah Marcus Sosa.  

Manuel is survived by his seven children: Florinda Sosa, Raquel Sosa-Martinez, Manuel Sosa Jr, Maria Luisa Sosa, Rene Sosa, Eva Sosa-Wathen, San Juanita Sosa-Castellano, nineteen grandchildren and twenty nine great grandchildren.

Chapel service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home with burial to follow at Las Yescas Cemetery in Las Yescas, TX.

You may sign the online guestbook and send words of comfort, flowers, or sympathy cards to the family of Manuel Sosa at: www.thomaegarza.com.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors and Crematorium, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.