Nadine G. Zapata

Nadine G. Zapata, whose gentle laughter and generous spirit graced every life she touched, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025, in Wilmington, North Carolina. Born on a warm summer day in Robstown, Texas, to Emilio Garcia and Frances Nerio, she carried with her the sunlit joy of her birthplace throughout a life devoted to faith, family, and service.

Raised amidst the tides and salt breezes of South Texas, Nadine graduated from Roy Miller High School in 1955, her bright mind and warm heart already shining through every classroom and corridor. She embarked on a long and distinguished career with the Texas State Attorney General's Office, where her integrity and compassion became the bedrock of her reputation. Even in the halls of government, she remained that same witty, attentive listener who could find common ground with every stranger she met.

More than a civil servant, Nadine was a devoted mother and cherished aunt. She delighted in the adventures of travel, always bringing home exotic souvenirs and the richest chocolates for loved ones to share. Her faith as a devout Catholic was a steady anchor: she held close the rhythms of the rosary, the hush of silent prayer, and the jubilant hymns of Mass. Yet her happiest moments were those spent courtside, cheering on her grandchildren as they wrestled and competed across the country.

Nadine was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Emilio Garcia and Frances Nerio Garcia, and by her sisters, Ofelia Garcia and Eva G. Valdez, and great-nephew, Adrian Alaniz. She is lovingly survived by her daughters, Sharon Garza and Edie Yvette Hernandez; her grandchildren, Cassandra De Leon, Benjamin Hernandez and Eden Hernandez; and her two nieces, Sylvia V. Villarreal and Mary Frances Acuna. Each life she leaves behind carries a piece of her warmth and wit, a legacy of kindness and love that will ripple through generations.

A funeral Mass celebrating Nadine's life will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Corpus Christi. Visitation begins at 10 a.m., followed by a rosary at 11 a.m. and Mass at 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Seaside Memorial Park.

Honored as pallbearers will be Matthew Hernandez, Benjamin Hernandez, Eden Hernandez, Ruben De Leon, Cassandra De Leon, Arturo Alaniz Jr., and Ronnie Lopez Jr.

In the hush that follows her final farewell, we will remember Nadine's quick laugh, her hidden stash of chocolate, her prayers said with quiet devotion, and the sparkle in her eye when her family gathered around. Though our hearts ache with her absence, we find comfort knowing that she now rests in eternal peace, wrapped in the same boundless love she so freely gave.