Francisca Berlanga

Francisca Berlanga Rivera

Age 83

December 3, 1938 – May 28, 2022

Francisca Berlanga Rivera, age 83, went home to Our Lord on May 28, 2022, in Houston, Texas, surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous battle with cancer that didn’t defeat her generous and loving nature to the end.

Born in 1938 to Paulino and Crecencia Rivera in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, she was raised in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.  In her 20’s she emigrated to the United States, living in Corpus Christi, and eventually marrying and settling in Houston, Texas in the 1980’s.  In Houston she and her husband, Julian Berlanga, raised their six children, later welcoming their many grandchildren and great grandchildren, whom she cherished and prayed for every day.

For those of us lucky enough to have known Francisca and spent many hours in her company, we found in her a very gracious wife, mother, grandmother, and friend whose beautiful smile and generous nature nourished those around her with her positive encouragement along life’s winding paths.  A woman of wisdom and family values, she herself was exemplary to the end, bearing her illness for over a year with patience and grace, with a loving smile that could only come from a heart close to God.

She loved long conversations and long walks—you could talk to her about anything.  She enjoyed tending to her many flowers and lush garden, and in younger years her sewing.  Her cooking left us looking forward to her next meal.  She herself especially enjoyed enchiladas, Mexican chiles rellenos and caldos, not to mention buffets in the company of family and friends.  We will miss that beautiful smile that greeted all who entered her home and presence.  We’ll always cherish our memories of you, Grandma!

Francisca is survived by her husband, Julian Berlanga, and her children Gabriel Berlanga, Francisco Berlanga, Lorena Quiroz, Victor Berlanga, Flor Berlanga, and her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her oldest son Martin Berlanga and beloved granddaughter, Cassi Banda.

The pall bearers will be Victor Berlanga, Sr. and Jr., Gabriel Berlanga, Joshua Berlanga, Joel Quiroz, and Victor Berlanga.

The visitation will take place on Thursday, June 2, 2022, 5:00-8:00 PM.  A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 3, 2022, at 9:00 AM, followed by the internment.  Both services will be held at Integrity Funeral Home, Forest Lawn Cemetery, 8601 Almeda-Genoa Rd., Houston TX 77075.