A mass of Christian burial will be held for Juanita Silva Diaz, 93, of Clinton at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
She died Sunday, June 16, 2019, at Alliance-Health Midwest City.
Diaz was born Jan. 28, 1926, to Nicholas Silva and Cruz Maria Rivera Silva in Raymondville, Texas. She was raised in south Texas and received some schooling there, but was also self-educated. She and her family were migrant workers and moved to Michigan in the 1950s.
She married Jose Diaz and the couple moved to Clinton in 1977. She worked at Norbest Turkey Plant several years before retiring.
Diaz was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and loved cooking, traveling and watching telenovelas.
She was preceded in death by her husband; two sons, Eddie Diaz and Jesus Diaz; a daughter, Josephine Vasquez; and five brothers and sisters.
Survivors include four daughters, Yolanda Rios of Flat Rock, Mich., Erma Villegas and husband Vidal of Adrian, Mich., Mary Murphy of Clinton, and Janie Araiza and husband George of Monroe, Mich.; six sons, Luiz Diaz and wife Joy of Toledo, Ohio, Mario Diaz and wife Lisa of Anadarko, Tony Diaz and wife Beth of Clinton, Jose Diaz Jr. and wife Sara of Liberal, Kan., Rufus Jaboco and Catalino Jaboco and wife Maria, all of Clinton.
She is also survived by 41 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
A Rosary will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Kiesau Memorial Chapel.
The service will be officiated by Father Joseph Nettem. Burial will follow at Clinton Cemetery under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.