Juanita Munoz Vela

1929 – 2018

She transitioned into her new life in God's Heaven on Wednesday, March 28 ^th .  We have faith that she was embraced with loving arms and being blessed with all that is joyful and that she is at Peace.

Juanita grew up in "The Valley" of Texas, but lived the majority of her life in Gary, IN.  She was the caring and loving mother of her two children, Santiago Cortez, Jr. and Patricia Moody.  The love for her children was all encompassing and more than this earthly world can hold.  She reminded them often, "No one could ever Love You as Much as I do."  That will remain with them always.

She had the love of her Mother and Father and had the added blessings of 5 sisters and 3 brothers.  She leaves with us her adored and cherished sister, Gavina Cuevas, of East Chicago, IN. Juanita was also blessed with the special love from all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and all their children. They all held a special place in her heart and she kept them in her daily prayers. More recently she had the precious blessing of spending time with her 2 great-grandsons, Trenton and Brayden.  They filled her spirit with a certain tenderness, tremendous joy and plenty of laughs.

All who knew Juanita knew that she was very active and had the blessing to remain that way until her last day.  She loved tending to her home with the sound of her favorite artists singing their songs.  She loved music and was known for being a great dancer at many a celebration.She had a tender love for all her pets and none had her heart more than her little dog April, who never left her side. She would also get a great pleasure in cooking for others.  She often cooked on Mother's Day and loved nothing more than seeing her children enjoy all their favorites.  - It was her special way of expressing her love.

Another wonderful joy to her were all her plants, flowers and trees.  She tended to them with special care and made sure to greet them all, making sure to tell them how beautiful they were.  Recently, after her passing, we had the pleasure of seeing one of her orchids bloom a lovely purple flower.  Her touch will remain around us, as we continue to tend to her special loves. Juanita also had the wonderful love and care from many of her friends and neighbors.  Many who showed her God's kindness in many things they did for her… She had a way to open her heart to them and they did so in return.

Thank you all for all your thoughts and prayers, as they give all of us who love her great comfort. An official obituary will appear in The Times on Sunday, April 8, 2018.  Family and freinds will gather to honor Juanita and celebrate her life on her 89th birthday Monday, April 16, 2018 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the Solan Pruzin Funeral Home & Crematory Schererville, IN