My mother-in-law Dora Ytuarte was a beautiful person, inside and out. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who was loved by many.
Dora was born and raised in Castroville, where she first worked as a waitress at Sammy’s Restaurant, then at the Rainbow Theatre. Later, she lived in El Paso with her husband, Mario Ytuarte. It’s where the couple started their family before Mario joined the Air Force and was sent to Vietnam. Through it all, Dora was a supportive wife and strong mother to her two children, Stephen and Suzann.
In 1975, the family moved to Lytle, where Dora and Mario watched their children grow up and start families of their own.
Dora loved singing, dancing, cooking, watching crime shows, getting her nails done, and taking road trips. But most of all she loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Our whole family contracted COVID-19 in June and July of last year. Due to underlying medical issues, Dora had to be hospitalized. After three weeks in the hospital, Dora was released with an oxygen tank. She was home for four days, then had difficulty breathing again. When she returned to the hospital, she was put on a ventilator. She was there only three days before losing her battle with COVID on Aug. 11, 2020.
Dora was preceded in death by husband, Mario Ytuarte; father, Juan Garza; mother, Gumesinda Garza; brothers, Johnny Garza, Fred Garza, Candelario Garza, and Johnny Fuentes; and sisters, Frances Rodriguez, Lupe Hernandez, Celia Spear, and Angelita Garza.
She is survived by son, Stephen Ytuarte and daughter-in-law Patty Moreno; daughter, Suzann Ytuarte; brothers, Ramon and Santiago Garza; sisters, Mary Thomas and Olivia Cantu; grandchildren, Edweena Ytuarte, Stephen Ytuarte, Sara Ytuarte, Isabella Ytuarte, Leighanna Ytuarte, Martina Ytuarte, Delilah Ytuarte, Victoria Lara, and Santiago Contreras; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
