Herminia Mendez Carranza

BENBROOK-Herminia Mendez Carranza passed away Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at the age of 79.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE: 12:30 p.m. Thursday, February 3, 2022 at Brown Owens & Brumley’s Joe B. Brown Memorial Chapel.
VISITATION: 5 TO 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at the funeral home.
INTERMENT: Herminia will be laid to rest in Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery.
Herminia was born Saturday, December 5, 1942 to the late Sabino Herrera Mendez and Petra Gomez Mendez in Sonora, Texas. She attended L.W. Elliott Elementary School, Sonora Middle School and graduated from Sonora High School in Sonora, Texas. She loved to watch sports, sewing, puzzles, crochet, gardening, cooking, being outdoors, but most of all she loved spending time with her family.
Herminia was a Christian and served the Lord everyday by sharing the Gospel with her family and others. Herminia is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Elaulia Duran; and sister, Lucia Sanchez.
MEMORIES: “My fondest memory is actually her fondest memory of me.” At about age 7 or 8, I wanted to be a rockstar; Minnie said I would be a rockstar for Jesus. Years later, I graduated seminary college and she reminded me that, indeed, I became a “rockstar” for Jesus.-Chelsea, granddaughter.
Every year at Christmas time, our community’s fire department hosts a fireworks display around December 5th (which happens to be my mother’s birthday). I remember that we have had many birthday parties, and we usually try to schedule it on fireworks day because the fireworks are visible from her backyard. We sometimes have hot chocolate and build a fire to warm ourselves if it is cold outside. There is usually loud Christmas music playing and there is a count down starting from number “ten” to light up the giant Christmas tree. We always tell my mom that we “ordered” fireworks again for her this year! Well, this particular year, the fireworks were not scheduled near my mother’s birthday, so no birthday party was planned for that day. It may have been the year 2018, or 2019, I am not sure. Anyhow, that year our entire family had other events scheduled and no-one showed up at mom’s house for the fireworks, which was a shame because it was absolutely the most beautiful and wondrous display that I have ever seen! It was just me and my mom that year. It was a beautiful night, with clear skies and it wasn’t cold or windy. The weather was just right to sit outside. We could hear the count down begin and the fireworks started. It was different that year, it was set to the music from “Polar Express”. The music was synced perfectly to the music and there were even “puffs” of smoke that resembled the train traveling. Whoo! Whoo! I remember looking down at my mother’s face and I didn’t see my mom as an older woman, but what I saw my mom as a child. She had that look of a little girl, gazing in amazement as she squealed with glee with each and every sparkle in the sky. She was absolutely beautiful! It was a very special night that she and I spent together and I will never forget it. I take that memory out of the archives of my mind every now and then, and I imagine that I will visit it more often now that she is gone. I am forever grateful for the love that my mother gave me and for many countless memories like this one. – Mathilda, Daughter
Our grandma was one of a kind. She was the kind of grandma that our friends wished they had as their own. Much of our childhood we were blessed to spend in her home. Some of our greatest memories are of her humming and singing hymns in her kitchen and at church, all the meals she made with love for us, walking trips to Wal-Mart, and seeing her in the stands at our ballgames. But most of all we are grateful for the impact she had on our faith. She always had the perfect Bible scripture ready for us when we needed a lesson. Now that we are adults, we appreciate it now more than ever all the lessons she taught us about respecting our parents, and finding salvation. We are so blessed she was able to witness all our baptisms as she looked on and gleamed with pride. Thank you Grandma for all the support, love, hugs, and prayers. We will forever miss you. – Josh, Noe, and Stephanie, Grandchildren
A few years ago, my daughter brought home a stray dog which she convinced me that she would take care of. Needless to say, this dog, which my daughter Stephanie named “Bob,” and I became very close as I seemed to be the only one who spent time with her, “Bob”. When Bob became sick a few years after and passed away, I had to bury her in the backyard. It was harder than I expected as I was crying more with each drive of the shovel in to the dirt. When I was done and after a prayer by the family, my mother-in-law Minnie came inside the house. It was Minnie who had the comforting words to make me feel better knowing what that lovable stray dog meant to me. She knew that even though Bob was only an animal and not human, that Bob and I had formed a special relationship because of Minnie’s love of animals herself. -Tony Duran, Son-in-Law
Mom, Thank you for taking me fishing. – Aaron, Son
My fond memory is when we gave her the sonogram photo of Zeke for Christmas, when we found out that I was expecting. I remember the excitement and glow in her eyes that she was about to be a great grandma. And when I hugged her, she told me “Thank you! I’m so excited!” and I said, “Thank You for being a wonderful grandma and an even greater Great-Grandma” – Jazmin, Granddaughter
Grandma was very special to me. She was the only Grandmother I’ve known and has been with me since day one. She was beautiful and filled with so much love. I remember all the early mornings being dropped off at her house and snuggling up to her in bed; little gifts she would buy me because they reminded her of me. She always would tell me that I was the sweetest and loved my naturally curly hair. She was a great comforter and had a Bible verse for every little thing that was going on in our lives. Her strong faith is what shaped our family and our lives into what they are today. She would pray for each of us every morning when she woke up and for every small and major thing that would go on in our lives. She was a very special woman of God to our family and to those who knew her. She is missed dearly and I love her so much. – Emily, Granddaughter
Years ago, I was stopping by the house one day to help drop off some things for Grandpa and I remember Grandma saying to me excitedly “I bought you your favorite cookies.” I didn’t even know that I had a favorite type of cookie. She handed me a big pack of frosted oatmeal cookies and told me that I used to eat them all the time when I was little. She insisted that I had to eat some before I left. They weren’t really my favorite but being the good grandson I am I ate a whole row and saved the rest for later. Now I can’t stop eating them and replaying her voice in my head, calling my name to wake me up for school. Grandma, I love you and I miss you. Thank you for everything, especially my favorite cookies. – Caleb, Grandson
When I was 20 years old and engaged to marry her son in three months, my mother suddenly and tragically passed away. Of course there are no words to really comfort someone at this time. I don’t remember anything that anyone said to comfort me. But the one thing I do remember is that Mom hugged me the longest and tightest hug I have ever had. During that time, there were no words. But that hug spoke thousands of words as her heart spoke to mine. That was really all I needed. I will never forget it; I will never forget her! She was the most Godly woman, such a blessing to have as a mother-in-law. Her legacy of faith in God has been passed on to her family. She was a prayer warrior for the family and all who knew her. She was completely selfless and would, quite literally and figuratively, give you the shirt off her back. We will miss her dearly but we know we will be joining her soon. – Pam, Daughter-in-Law
SURVIVORS: Loving husband of 60 years, Rojelio Esquivel Carranza; daughter, Mathilda Duran and husband, Anthony; son, Roger Carranza and wife, Pamela; son, Eli Carranza and wife, Patricia; son, Aaron Carranza and wife, Shirley; sister, Micaela Flores; sister, Amparo Esquivel; grandsons, Joshua Duran, Noe Duran and wife, Alex and Caleb Carranza and wife Anaid; granddaughters, Stephanie Poe and husband, Shawn, Jazmin Browder and husband, Jeremy, Alyssa Carranza, Emily Carranza and Chelsea Polson and husband, Austin; great grandson, Ezekiel Browder; great granddaughters, Lilliana Browder and Sophia Poe.

Brown Owens & Brumley Family Funeral Home
425 S. Henderson St.
(817) 335-4557