Yolanda Zarate

Yolanda Imelda Zarate, 84, entered eternal rest on Sunday November 3, 2024 at her residence in Edinburg, Texas. She was born on Tuesday, April 30, 1940 at her grandfather's farm and ranch, Las Delicias Ranch in Brooks County to Julian Zarate and Aminta Clemencia Cavazos Zarate. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister, Sofia Andrea Zarate Arechiga and brother in law, Dr. Armando Arechiga. 

She is survived by her sister, Carlota "Charlie (Policarpo "Polo") Flores, nieces; Sandra Aminta (Michael) Hernandez and Sofia Andrea (Patricio Rene "P.R.") Avila, great nieces; Samantha Julian Flores and Isabella Sofia Avila, and great great niece; Juliana Sandrene Flores as well as numerous cousins.

Yolanda was a registered nurse for over 50 years and was part of RGV history when she graduated with her RN as part of the initial 1st graduating class of Pan American University's RN Program in 1969 in Edinburg, Texas. She began her nursing career as an RN in Houston with Dr. Michael Debaker's heart transplant patients then returned to the Rio Grande Valley where she worked at McAllen Methodist Hospital in the Labor and Delivery Department. She quickly made her way up to House Supervisor and was part of the team that helped make the move from the McAllen Methodist Hospital location in downtown McAllen to the new McAllen Medical Center in 1985. She left the hospital in the early 90s and became a traveling nurse working all over Texas until she took a break and began working with the Department of Health and Human Services so she could remain local and help her sister in her battle with cancer. After Sofie's passing, she shifted her focus to her mother and worked as an RN consultant for numerous Adult Day Care centers across the upper valley where she could have her mother close to her while she worked. Incredibly, she continued working as an RN until early this year. In her spare time, she enjoyed jewelry making, traveling, and writing and most recently wrote the book "1492-2020 Hispanic Heritage Timeline, Truth Versus Consequences We Did Not Cross the Border from Mexico, the Border Crossed Us." However, her greatest love was spending time with her family. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, colleagues and those whose lives she touched throughout her five decades long nursing career.

The Zarate family will receive friends on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 from 5:00PM-8:00PM with a short tribute by the RGV Nurse Honor Guard and a rosary to be prayed at 6:00PM in the Chapel of Peace, Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home, 322 East Kuhn Street, Edinburg, Texas. Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, November 8, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1302 East Champion Street in Edinburg. Interment of Ashes will follow at La Noria Cardenena Ranch Cemetery in North Edinburg. Funeral services have been entrusted to Johnny Garcia, Funeral Director/Manager and staff at Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home in Edinburg.