Sara Alicia Grajales

Sara Alicia Grajales, known affectionately as Miss Sara by her students and co-workers, peacefully passed away on October 27, 2023, at the age of 59 in Harlingen, Texas. She was born on August 27, 1964, in Brownsville, Texas, to Zoila Gomez-Garza and the late Reynaldo Gomez. Sara's loving and caring nature touched the lives of many during her 25-year career as a Paraprofessional with the Harlingen Consolidated School District at Long Elementary. Sara always had a wonderful smile. A sweet, loving, caring and kind soul with a calm personality and disposition. She enjoyed her family and enjoyed working with children as a paraprofessional with the Harlingen Consolidated School District at Long Elementary. In her 25 years of service, she touched the lives of many children, she cared for all of them and gave them her all. A testament to this is the affection shown to her by many of these children when they encountered her outside of school and through the years after leaving school many of them now young adults. To her, Long Elementary its students and its staff were her second family. She made strong bonds with many of the people that worked beside her every day, creating a loving sisterhood with so many of them. Her life was her family, with her sons and husband at the center of it. When her sons were young and through adolescence, following their activities in sports and choir were the center of her and her husband’s daily life. As her sons matured, seeing them go to school and find a profession and make their way in life gave her so much pride. She beamed at what both Fernando and Gustavo have become. The birth of her grandson, Joaquin Andres, brought her immeasurable joy, and she cherished the time she spent with him, even during her illness. Sara had a calm and kind disposition, always wearing a wonderful smile. She enjoyed reading, working on puzzles and word games, and watching game shows, often playing along as if she were a contestant. Working with her Cricut was another joy of hers. She was always ready to create something for the classroom or some school need on a moment’s notice and request from her beloved friend and co-worker Patsy Palmer. She loved to travel and was always ready at a moment’s notice from her husband if he might need to travel for business or just on a whim to see the country or watch a soccer game. A game she learned to like and watch through her sons playing it and her husband’s passion for it. She loved her visits to New York, and her wish was to go return there soon and have a bagel at Tribeca Bagels, just as soon as she recovered from her illness. Staying at the Beach Shack, her, and Gus’s tiny little apartment on South Padre , was another great joy that she looked forward to almost weekly throughout the year. A place to relax, enjoy the water, enjoy the restaurants and visit her favorite shops. Sara will be deeply missed by her husband, Gustavo Grajales; her sons, Gustavo (Gloria) and Fernando (Girlfriend Daisy); her grandson, Joaquin Andres; her mother, Zoila Gomez-Garza; her sister, Mandy Gomez-Nevin (Pete); her brother, Rey (Susan); her nieces and nephews, Sylvia, Georgia, Louisa, Audrey, Marlena, Julia, Eva, Francisco, Gabriel, Noe, Jack, and Thomas. She was preceded in death by her father, Reynaldo Gomez, and her sister, Zoila Villareal. Sara's educational journey began at Bonham Elementary and continued at Harlingen High School, where she graduated in 1982. She furthered her education at Texas Southmost College/UTB. Her dedication to learning and her passion for helping others led her to her fulfilling career as a Paraprofessional with the Harlingen Consolidated School District, where she made a lasting impact on countless children's lives. Friends and loved ones are invited to pay their respects to Sara, Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at Rudy Garza Funeral Home in Harlingen from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A rosary and memorial service will begin at 7:00 PM. The interment of ashes will take place at a later date and will be announced. The caring professionals at Rudy Garza Funeral Home have been entrusted with the arrangements for Sara's final farewell. Their compassionate support and guidance during this difficult time are greatly appreciated. The Family would like to thank the Long Elementary staff and well as the HCISD administrative offices staff for all the support given to Sara and her husband during her illness. They would like to thank Dr. Todd Shenkenberg as well as the Nurses and Staff of Valley Cancer Associates for the compassionate care they provided Sara through her illness.

Sara Alicia Grajales

August 27, 1964 - October 27, 2023

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