Submitted by
Ken Gates
Published in the Waco Tribune-Herald from 11/20/2008 - 11/21/2008
Ernestine (Garcia) Dominguez
November 9, 1927 - November 19, 2008
Ernestine Dominguez passed away Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, after a short battle with cancer. A Mass in commemoration of Nana's life will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at St. Francis Catholic Church 301 Jefferson, in Waco, followed by interment at the China Spring Cemetery. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Kerens Presbyterian Church.
"Nana," as she was known by all who knew and loved her, was born Nov. 9, 1927, in Marlin, one of eleven children born to Joe and Dolores Garcia. Only days before her death, she had celebrated her 81st birthday surrounded by loved ones, with whom she had shared a lifetime of unconditional love and abundant support as well as her legendary tortillas. She married the light of her life, Tommy Dominguez, on Sept. 17, 1945, at Saint Francis Catholic Church in Waco. They settled in rural China Spring, and together raised five natural born children.
Nana mothered many others not born to her, but loved as her own. She raised some of her "adopted" children from infants, and others came into her life as older children and adults. All were welcomed at her kitchen table and into her open arms and heart. She was "Everybody's Nana" and we will all miss her. Her children were her joy in life and are her legacy in death. Nana and Tommy built a household where education was a priority, and life was filled with learning opportunities. Hard work was valued and plentiful. Nana treasured her rich cultural heritage, passed its traditions down to her children, even when it was not a popular notion to do so. The she made was warm and loving. She taught her children by her example, to respect themselves and each other, to pick their battles and to be the warm individuals they each are, today. Her last months were filled with the familiar sounds of her children, again, by her side cooking for her; teasing her; letting her win at checkers; taking one last day trip to Stranger, Texas, where she went to grade school; laughing at times and crying at times. All doing what they could to make Nana happy. Visiting and caring for her during her last days were some of her most grateful "adopted grandchildren," Nichole Anderson and her brother, Nicholas Green, as well as their mother, Mary Brewer, Coy Brewer and Erv Bonhakowski whose support was greatly appreciated.
Nana was preceded in death by her parents; her young son, Roman; and her beloved husband of 54 years, Tommy Dominguez.
She is survived by three daughters, Mary Ann Higgins and husband, Bill and Cathline Dominguez, all of China Spring, and Hope Dominguez-Reese and her husband, the Rev. Charles Reese of Kerens, Texas; one son, Joe Anthony Dominguez and wife, Winnie of San Antonio; two grandchildren, Christina Higgins-Ratcliff and her husband, Reagan and Tommy Higgins and his wife, Courtney; two well loved great-grandsons, Isaac Higgins and Jacob Ratcliff; and all of Nana's "adopted children" were no less important to her but are not named individually here for fear of unintentionally leaving someone out. You know who you are and you know that Nana loved you. We are comforted in our knowledge that Nana is once again with Tommy, with Roman, with her family and friends who have gone before her and most importantly to her, with her Lord. We are confident that she will be guided safely to heaven by Our Lady of Guadalupe, who we are equally sure will continue to travel with each of us on every trip we take thanks to Nana.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 2269 CR 1703, Malakoff, TX 75148; Kerens Presbyterian Church, 301 South E. 3rd Kerens, TX 75144 or Caritas of Waco.
