"Al lado de ti por muchos días compartiendo llantos y alegrias. Viviste y luchaste con valor, ya no sufres con tu dolor. Dia y noche rezaba por ti hasta el dia que te vi partir. Tus ojos con ese reflejo de amor me cubrieron la tristeza con su calor. Doy gracias a Dios por ser tu Mami y por la dicha de poder decirte mi hija." Amelia Mendez, 39, of Harlingen, Texas, went to be with our Lord on August 30, 2012. She was born August 28, 1973 and raised in Brownsville, Texas. She graduated from Homer Hanna High School in 1992 and the University of Texas at Brownsville in 1996. She was a teacher and bilingual specialist with the Brownsville Independent School District for 15 years. She was a former resident of Brownsville and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She resided in Harlingen for the past four years, and was a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her father Ascencion Mendez Marquez and her godparents, Jose Luis and Amelia Garcia. She is survived by her mother Paula Mendez and her extended family; Amelia Ambler (Richard), Belinda Garcia, Celina Garcia, Dolly (David) Hinojosa and Evie (Eddie) Villarreal. She is also survived by her loving aunts, uncles, cousins, godchildren, and all her students. Visitation will be held on Monday, September 3, 2012 from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, with a holy rosary at 7:00 pm, at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito. A chapel service will be held on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at 10:00 am at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home. Committal service will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria, Texas. Serving as pallbearers are Magdaleno Ybarra, Marciano Ybarra, David Hinojosa, Eddie Villarreal, Ismael Mendez, Joshua Villarreal, and Richard Ambler. You may sign the online guestbook and send words of comfort, flowers, or sympathy cards to the family of Amelia Mendez at www.thomaegarza.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.