Maria Teresa "Mary" Silguero Varnam

Maria Teresa Silguero Varnam, 82, of Laguna Vista, TX passed away on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, TX.
A life-long resident of Port Isabel, TX, Maria was raised by her grandmother. After graduating from Port Isabel High School, she went to work with the Department of Urban Renewal. She continued her college education in Brownsville and then met and married her husband.
Maria enjoyed traveling and took many trips to visit family in California and Houston. Later in life, she rejoined the workforce where she found a rewarding career with the Housing Authority. She enjoyed spending time with her tenants. She would watch "The Price is Right" with an elderly tenant and would assist others with the completion of various forms and applications. She would help with various needs that would arise and would spend time interacting with folks at the Community Center where she taught English, sewing, and nutrition classes. She loved to help residents with computers and building Homecoming Floats. During the summer she enjoyed spending time with family at South Padre Island and Schlitterbahn Water Park.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles William Varnam, Sr; son, Charles William "Chuck" Varnam, Jr; father, Ildefonso Holland Silguero, Sr; and mother, Hortensia Martinez; stepmother, Oralia Silguero; stepfather, Gilberto Martinez; grandmother, Maria Theresa Holland Silguero, grandfather, Margarito Silguero; 2 brothers, Ildefonso "Junie" Silguero, Jr. and Gilberto "Toe" Martinez, Jr.
She is survived by her son, Leif Erickson Varnam; daughter, Anitra Varnam; grandson, Sebastain Curtin-Varnam; siblings, Sam Silguero (Ramona), Noe Silguero (Sally), Joseph Silguero, Irene Ragusin Silguero – sister-in-law, Irene Silguero, Alice Carillo (Manuel), Jessica Holmes (Peter), Sandra Martinez Gonzalez, Alberto (Chuca) Martinez, Hector Martinez (Phyllis) and Oscar Martinez (Jovita).
Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with the recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito, TX.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 705 S. Longoria St, Port Isabel, TX with interment to follow at Port Isabel City Cemetery.
You may sign the online guestbook, light a remembrance candle, or send words of comfort to the family of Maria Teresa Silguero Varnam at www.thomaegarza.com.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Home and Crematorium, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.