Silvina S. Hinojosa

LA GRULLA - Silvina Solis Hinojosa, daughter of Juan Solis, Sr. and Dolores Saenz Solis was born on December 8, 1924 in La Grulla, Texas. She always knew she would be a teacher. Even before she was born her father and mother said she would be a teacher and pianist. It turned out that she grew up to do both. One can say that Mrs. Silvina Hinojosa was born to be a teacher.

She attended elementary school in La Grulla and graduated from Rio Grande City High School in 1942. Mrs. Hinojosa earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Spanish; a Masters degree in Education, Mid Management and Supervision from the University of Texas at Pan American.

Silvina Hinojosa has enjoyed a long, productive and distinguished life. She recognized opportunities to serve and gave to the communities in Starr County and La Joya ISD. Mrs. Hinojosa began teaching second grade at La Joya ISD at the age of 18. She taught for 28 years and then served as an administrator for an additional ten years. As an administrator, she was able to give other educators the benefit of her experience. She was Department Head for remedial reading, initiated the first Jr. High Student Council (1973-1974), coached UIL, ESAA Program Director and Parental Involvement Coordinator. Along with these duties, she was also in charge of the G. E. D. Adult Education Program. She would encourage and recruit drop out students to participate in the G.E.D. Mrs. Hinojosa started the Parental Involvement Scholarship Fund which provided three seniors with an annual scholarship.

Mrs. Hinojosa taught piano and dance lessons at home, school and in various communities. In 1972, she was recognized as Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Hinojosa has been a member of numerous professional organizations and served as officer in many of them. She served on the Starr County Hospital District Board for ten years, where through her leadership as President, the ambulance services were established in the rural areas and an LVN school was opened. In 1974, Kappa Delta Pi selected her to appear in their publication as "Personalities of the South", and in 1984 KGBT Radio recognized her as "Citizen of the Week".

Mrs. Hinojosa served in the church parish council for many years, played the organ in church and served as vice-president of the Altar Society. She has served in the Serra Club, Hijas de Maria and Bible Study Fellowship. She also donated land in La Victoria to the Diocese of Brownsville for the construction of Cristo Rey Catholic Church. She believed in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was a strong woman of faith. She was kind and friendly to all. She was a gracious lady who never met a stranger. She exemplified her love for the Lord by living her life for Him. She was a dutiful wife, loving mother, grandmother, and daughter.

In 1985, Mrs. Hinojosa retired after 38 years of dedicated service to the La Joya I.S.D. After she retired she was rehired by La Joya I.S.D. as a Parental Involvement Consultant to conduct Parenting Sessions. Mrs. Hinojosa was also hired by the Hidalgo I.S.D. to initiate and implement a Parental Involvement Program like the successful one in La Joya I.S.D.

In 1998, Mrs. Hinojosa was elected to the RGCCISD School Board where she served for 13 years. Her vision to re-establish a high school in the La Grulla area was realized with the opening of Grulla High School in August, 2010. She served as Woman Advisor for the Agriculture Farm Service Agency of Starr County and as a board member of the Starr County Appraisal District.

Mrs. Hinojosa married Isidro Hinojosa and had five children; Isidro Juan (Ismelda) Hinojosa, Alma Alicia Hinojosa, Ricardo Luis (Janie) Hinojosa and Linda Yvonne Hinojosa (Frank) Ochoa and Jose Carlos Hinojosa a€ . Her sons both are graduates of the University of Texas at Pan American and her daughters are both graduates of the University of Texas at Austin. Isidro, Ricardo and Linda are also educators. Alma is a Pharmacist and an Attorney in the Rio Grande Valley. Mrs. Hinojosa's grandchildren: Alicia Yvonne Hinojosa, Jessica Denise Hinojosa, Carolee Ann Hinojosa, Michelle Yvette Hinojosa, Aaron Ismael Ochoa, Ruby Ochoa (Baldo) Solis, Franky Ochoa, III, Rosalie Ochoa (Abraham) Rodriguez and great grandchildren: Andrew Zavala, Anthony Zavala, Nylah Solis, Nayleen Solis, Juan Ismael (Jay) Mendoza.

Her children loved her dearly. They described and recognized her as a Proverbs 31:28 Woman - Her children arise and call her blessed...

Visitation will start today, Wednesday, 05-17-2017 from 12 noon - 9:00pm, with a Holy Rosary at 7:00pm. On Thursday, visitation will continue from 9:00am - 2:30pm, Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 3:00pm, Holy Family Catholic Church in La Grulla, TX. Interment will follow at Solis Cemetery. All Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sanchez Funeral Home of Rio Grande City, Texas.

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