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.