Elizabeth Miriam Martinez-Guarneri
April 5, 1939 -- June 29, 2020
"Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful servants."
Psalm 116:15 (NIV)
Elizabeth M. Guarneri has gone to be with her Redeemer. She has arrived at her eternal home. She is singing the praises of her God and rejoicing in her salvation. She is healed and free. It is well with her soul!
We will miss her smile, her joyful spirit, her sense of humor, her prayers, piano playing, her paintings and poems, her FB posts, her hugs, her text messages & thoughtful cards and gifts. She leaves a big hole in our hearts until we meet her again when Jesus returns.
Elizabeth was a beloved daughter, a loving sister, a dear mother, an educator, a missionary, an evangelist, a disciple-maker, a minister to children and students, a poet, a musician whose instrument of choice was the piano, an artist through painting, a deaconess at her church, a lover of culture, folklore, Spanish literature, good meals and large gatherings for family and friends.
Elizabeth was 81 years when she passed on to her eternal home on June 29, 2020. She was born on April 5, 1939 to her beloved parents, Gumaro Martinez and Fernanda (Nanda) Jasso in General Terán, Nuevo León, México. Elizabeth's dad had a trading business in the area and her mom was a school teacher in both Terán and Montemorelos, Nuevo León.
The gospel reached Elizabeth's mother and grandmother through the Presbyterian Church in Villa de Mainero, Tamaulipas. After making professions of faith they joined the Presbyterian church. When Elizabeth's family moved to Terán, they joined the Methodist church since there was no Presbyterian church in town. Missionary Anna Devor was the Sunday School teacher for all three sisters: Irma, Orfa and Elizabeth. Elizabeth learned to play the piano at a young age and enjoyed playing the hymns of the faith as well as classical music. The influence of the missionary, the church and music shaped Elizabeth for a lifetime.
Elizabeth trusted in Christ as Savior and Lord at a very young age and she committed to a life of serving Him and his kingdom.
The Martinez-Jasso family believed strongly in the importance of education. So as soon as the three sisters: Irma, Orfa and Elizabeth finished High School, they were sent to Monterrey in order to attend the Miguel F. Martínez' Teacher's College (Normal School). They stayed at a boarding house. Elizabeth finished teacher's college with a specialization in early childhood.
Upon graduation Elizabeth started her first job at Moisés Sáenz, a private kindergarten and, not long after that, she was hired as staff of Greater Mexican Missions (Emil Aanderud, director). This bivocational arrangement in her early twenties would become the norm for the rest of her life as a minister through education and the church. She made disciples ministering to the spirit, the mind, and the soul.
Elizabeth and her family were committed members of the Iglesia Presbiteriana El Buen Pastor (The Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church) in Monterrey. There she developed leadership among the young people group and in teaching preschoolers.
Additionally, in the early 1960s, while still a young single, Elizabeth supported the college student ministry founded by professor Mariluz Gutierrez called "Círculo Juvenil Cristiano." Both ladies also formed an interdenominational women's group for the financial support of college student ministry as well as a network of professional evangelicals.
In 1964, Elizabeth married Carlos Julio Guarneri, who also worked with Greater Mexican Missions, and together they left extended family in Monterrey to make disciples among students of the University of Mexico. Their home became the student ministry center where students came and went throughout the day and late evening.
Among other things Elizabeth taught at the Presbyterian missionary school in Mexico City and did mission outreaches with children in lower-income neighborhoods of the greater Mexico area and later Monterrey.
Elizabeth worked to support the team that organized and coordinated evangelistic efforts across agencies and denominations, which was led by her husband, for the 1968 Olympiads in Mexico City. She was also instrumental in the discipling and planting of house churches in Toluca, Puebla and Ciudad Satelite. Many came to Christ during this ministry and some house churches were planted. Her sons Julio and Daniel were born during this time of ministry.
Shortly after the Olympiads, the Guarneri-Martinez returned to Monterrey in 1968 where they continued to do discipleship work among college students. Among other things Elizabeth organized and directed student camps and retreats as well as multiple Vacation Bible Schools. Many came to Christ during this time. Several house churches were planted as the result of this effort. The Guarneri home was the host of one of those church plants started with young men such as Hector Valay and others. Noe David and Anna Elizabeth were born during this time of ministry.
After having attended a 1977 missions conference in Mexico City challenging Mexican nationals to go as international missionaries, the Guarneri-Martinez family felt called to leave Mexico as missionaries. As they prayed for direction as to which country should be their destination, Elizabeth read about the growing number of Spanish-speaking immigrants in the US and felt the family should go preach the gospel and plant churches among them. She sought the advice and support of missionary Ms. Roger.
Elizabeth was very fond of the North American missionaries who invested their lives in Mexico for the sake of the gospel such as Ms. Devor, the Aanderud's, the Thompson's, the Letz', and Ms. Roger, to name a few. She developed life-time friendships with them and was influenced by their example.
So in 1978 the Guarneri-Family was sent by their home church to do church planting among Spanish-speaking immigrants in Texas. Once again, after selling belongings and leaving loved ones behind they ventured out into a new season of ministry while being supported financially by their house church in Monterrey. Elizabeth, alongside her family, served in Rio Grande City, Edinburg, Beeville, Freer and Corpus Christi.
During the family's time in Beeville, Elizabeth began her second journey in higher education. Although she had completed her college education in Mexico, she had to start her college education from the very beginning in the US. It was in Beeville that she also began teaching in adult education, which she continued for many years thereafter. She also taught piano to many members of various churches in the Bee County area and beyond.
In 1985 the Guarneri-Martinez family moved to Corpus Christi to start Parkdale Baptist Church en español. By this time Julio was in college, Dan and David were in High School and Anna Elizabeth (Beth) was in elementary school. Not long after that Elizabeth became a single mom and in her commitment to provide well for her children, she obtained a job as a teacher assistant at Wynn Seale Junior High (CCISD), while she pursued her bachelor's degree at Corpus Christi State University, which is now Texas A&M Corpus Christi. With tenacity and commitment in a career as a single mom in this second stage of her life, she pursued and obtained a Master of Arts degree from Texas A&I Kingsville as well.
Elizabeth spent the rest of her years teaching for Robstown High School (RISD), Panamerican Presbyterian Academy in Kingsville, W.B. Ray High School (CCISD), Del Mar College and TAMUCC. She taught Spanish, sponsored the Spanish club, taught art and Mexican folklore, and, even after retirement continued to substitute teach until the COVID-19 pandemic. Elizabeth's students remember her as jovial, "cool," generous, kind, encouraging, fun and inspirational. Her colleagues agree.
Elizabeth loved all four of her children the same but spent much of her energy in caring for her daughter Anna Elizabeth (Beth) who struggled with mental health issues and other challenges. Beth became terminally ill in 2019 and Elizabeth became her caregiver through the most difficult moments until Beth passed to eternity on November 22, 2019. Elizabeth was heart-broken but her faith in Christ was strong. Though she grieved, she continued to live a full life, loving her sons, grandchildren, serving her church, teaching and having projects of her own.
Her unfinished projects include publishing a book of poems, writing discipleship lessons for home groups in her church, and meeting her first great-grandson. In other words, Elizabeth had not given up on life. She continued to live fully, vivaciously and with confident hope until her last day.
She posted inspirational things on Facebook and Instagram daily, commented on everyone's posts saying positive things or cracking a joke, and direct messaged multiple people every day to encourage them. Her text messages, social media posts and direct messages were always filled with hope, inspiration, optimism, Scripture and praise for God.
Elizabeth was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church where she served as a deaconess, in the missions committee, participated in the handbell choir and played the piano, among other things. She loved her church and was loved by them as well.
Elizabeth believed that Jesus Christ is the only Lord and Savior. She believed that the richness of the diverse cultures and nationalities reflect the beauty of God. She believed in the sanctity of human life from the womb to the tomb. She believed in the dignity of all human beings because they are made in the image of God regardless of age, race, religion, socio-economic status, nationality or level of education. She believed that God helps those who cannot help themselves and that Christians should be the hands and feet of Jesus to the marginalized. She was an avid pacifist. She was saddened by hate speech and rhetoric. She believed the answer was love and peace, which can only be found in Jesus Christ.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, Gumaro Martinez and Fernanda (Nanda) Jasso, by her daughter, Anna Elizabeth Guarneri, and by her dear brother-in-law, Gilberto Garza. She is survived by her sons, Julio (Monica) of McAllen, Daniel of Corpus Christi and Noe David of the LA area (Mojave desert) in California; by her grandchildren, Joshua of McAllen, Rachel (Jaziel) of Lubbock, Danielle of Corpus Christi, Alex (Andrew) of San Antonio, Mia of Corpus Christi, Stevan, student at UT Austin, Sabrina of Georgetown and Sebastian of San Antonio; by her sisters, Irma Martinez de Garza and Orfa (Angel) Martinez de Rodriguez, both of Monterrey, Mexico. She loved her nephews and nieces Gilberto (Nancy) Garza, Hernán (Lolis) Garza, Hugo Adrián (Liliana) Garza, Fernando (Claudia) Garza, Irma "Mima" (Abelardo) Garza, and Sara Lilia Rodriguez, all of Monterrey, Nuevo León.
A celebration of Life Service for Elizabeth M. Guarneri will be on Tuesday, July 7 at 10:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church of Corpus Christi (430 S. Carancahua St, Corpus Christi, Texas 78401) followed by an interment service at the Seaside Memorial Park (4357 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412).
We respectfully request that family and guests wear masks and keep social distancing. We also encourage those who are vulnerable health-wise to participate remotely. The service will be live-streamed via the church’s Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/firstprescc/
CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE VIDEO GALLERY
Beautiful tribute to your godly mother. A life well lived. Well done, thy good & faithful servant!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Janine ♥️
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful life! What a beautiful legacy! You were truly blessed to have her. Clinging to the promise of the great reunion in the sky. May the God of All comfort be with all of you.
ReplyDelete