San Juanita "Juani" Salinas

San Juanita Salinas (Juani), beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend passed away peacefully at her home on June 20, 2024. Juani was born in Reynosa, Mexico to Micaela Rojas Gutierrez and Ramiro Gutierrez who she is now reunited with in heaven. She was the oldest of 4 and always showed motherly love towards her siblings, Ramiro A. Gutierrez (Socorro), Martha Rosales (Herminio), and Michael Gutierrez (Juan). She is preceded in death by her ex-husband (Cesar Salinas) who she loved dearly for helping her bring her greatest blessings into this world Jacqueline Johnson (Bennie Johnson) and David Salinas (Delma Saldana). She is survived by her grandchildren: Alexandra, David, Daniel, Alidya, Ariana, and Darin who she loved and cherished. Juani and her family lived in Reynosa until 1977 when they migrated to the USA to live here permanently. Those were very trying years as they were leaving behind the home where they grew up and family and friends who they loved dearly. She worked with her family in the fields harvesting different agricultural products all through the Rio Grande Valley. Her last employment was in the packing plants and in the college food service department. She spent the last few years of her life in the care of her daughter in Houston as she struggled with different health conditions. Her family wants to remember her as a person who always expressed her opinions, was set in her ways, unadventurous with new experiences, but always with a big smile and true to her authentic self. At family gatherings, we were always aware of her presence with her loud voice and contagious laughter. She was also an excellent cook and taught her nieces how to make tamales to carry on the Christmas tradition. She was fond of watching telenovelas and would reminisce about her beloved Mexican culture. Juani also loved listening to music and clapping along with the beat. You could always count on her to dance along with cumbias and get everyone out of their seats. In her last year living in Houston, you could find Juani courtside cheering along at Ariana’s basketball games. Juani will always hold a dear place in our hearts and be greatly missed by all who were blessed to call her mother, Buela, sister, Tia, and friend. She will also be our beloved Chapa, for her short stature, but big personality.

San Juanita "Juani" Salinas

August 30, 1957 - June 20, 2024