98
Corpus Christi, TX
December 21, 2022
Petra G. Dilley peacefully went to her Lord on December 21, 2022. She lived in Corpus Christi, Texas prior to coming to live in Conroe, Texas. She was 98 years old. Petra Garcia Dilley was born in August 1924 on El Ranchito in Zapata, Texas. She attended Zapata Schools until the ninth grade when her father became very ill and then worked at the Cuellar country store to help support the family.
Petra Dilley married Ermilo Dilley on March 2, 1946 in Zapata, Texas. They traveled by bus to Corpus Christi, Texas where they began their married life. They had three children, Joyce Ann, Mary Jo and Ermilo Duane all born in Corpus Christi, Texas. Following the sudden and untimely death of her husband in December 1959, Petra worked tirelessly to support her three young children mostly in food service and lastly at the Naval Air Station Commissary meat market where the civil service coaxed her to retire “early” at age 74.
Following retirement, she remained very active and social. Always a strong advocate for education, one that circumstances denied her, she volunteered at Flour Bluff Elementary Schools in reading and math for over seven years and at Driscoll Childrens’ Hospital oncology unit. She enjoyed water aerobics three days a week for years. She traveled with church and retiree groups to Greece, Italy twice, Mexico City, the Bahamas and the Hawaiian Islands.
Petra Dilley was filled with her Catholic faith, attending daily and Sunday masses until age 96 when she then received communion through home ministry. She was a lifelong member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Flour Bluff, Texas, a member of the Altar Rosary Society, as well as a member of the local and national Catholic Daughters of America. She lived her faith through her generous gifts to the church and was a eucharistic minister.
Petra G. Dilley is survived by daughters Joyce Ann Pfannenstein (Terry), Dr. Mary Jo Parker (Edward A), and son, Dr. Ermilo Duane Dilley (Diana).
Grandchildren include Jeffery Pfannenstein, Michelle Weatherson (Craig), Brian Pfannenstein (Kara), and Amanda Silveria (James); Katherine Luhan (Chad), Kelli Lupold (Colin), and Kourtney Pena (Rick); Michael Dilley and Dr. Deborah Dilley (Dr Andrew Wong). Petra was blessed with many great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by parents Amada and Felix Garcia and siblings Beatrice Morales, Amador Garcia, Blasa Ramirez, Augustin Garcia, Amelia Alegria, Aurora Ramirez and Jose Angel Garcia.
Rosary and visitation to be held in Zapata, Texas at Rose Garden Funeral Home on Wednesday, Dec. 28th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Thursday, December 29th funeral mass will be celebrated by Most Reverend Bishop Daniel E. Flores S.T.D. at our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church beginning at 10:00 am followed by burial services at Zapata Cemetery. For additional information please visit Rose Garden Funeral Home website: https://www.rosegardenfuneralhome.corn/.
The family sends special thanks to the Heart-to-Heart Hospice for the special comfort care provided by all to her especially nurse Lilly, her eldercare givers who assisted Petra with dedicated care for more than six years each: Mrs. Jessica Villeda (8 years), Mrs Rosario Guillen (6 years), and Ms Maria Castillo (6 years). The family sends a special thanks to Sacred Heart Catholic Church priests Father Phillip Wilhite, Pastor, and Father Joseph Manapuram, Vicar.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Stroke Association (https://www.stroke.org/en/)