Rita Jaso

1939 - 2025

On September 17th, 2025, Rita Cruz Martinez Jaso began her rest in eternal peace while surrounded by her family. Rita was born on May 3rd, 1939, in Alice, Texas to the late Tomas Villarreal and Eloisa (Peña) Martinez.
Rita graduated in the top ten of her class from William Adams High School in Alice, Texas in 1957. She received the first scholarship awarded by the Alice Physicians and Surgeons Hospital and attended the Brackenridge Hospital School of Nursing in Austin, Texas. She graduated in 1959 and passed the required State Board Examination to attain her Registered Nurse License. She later graduated with High Honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing on May 23rd, 1981.
Rita started her nursing career in Alice where she worked at the Physicians & Surgeons Hospital for a year and then returned to Austin where she continued her nursing practice in 1961 at Brackenridge Hospital. Initially she worked on the pediatrics floor and subsequently transferred to the intensive care unit, eventually becoming the director of nursing for the ICU. During these formative years in critical care nursing, she continually sought advanced education and achieved her CCRN certification. She helped develop the first coronary care unit in Central Texas. She also worked at Seton Medical Center and St. David's Hospitals as an educator providing staff training and development.
Rita lived the Florence Nightingale Pledge and as a pioneer in critical care will be remembered for her dedication by the many nurses and physicians she worked with over the years.
Rita met David R. Jaso in Austin, Texas in 1958 while he was in the USAF and she was in nursing school. They married in Alice, Texas on September 3rd, 1961 and moved to Austin, Texas where their two precious daughters Theresa (Terry) and Christine (Tina) were born. After thirty-five years and successful careers, the couple moved to Sun City in Georgetown, Texas.
Rita will be remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, and doting grandmother to the joys of her life Sarah, Caleb, and Patrick. She enjoyed babysitting the grandkids, family gatherings, visiting with friends and going out to eat at her favorite restaurants. She loved the special family gatherings on Easter, Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents, brother Jose Martinez and is survived by her sister Lucila Reynolds, brother Guadalupe Martinez Sr., daughters Terry (Casey Corona), Tina (Michael Chesnutt), grandchildren Sarah and Caleb Chesnutt and Patrick Corona and numerous nephews, and nieces and two special ladies (Lulu and Mary Ann) that considered her their second mom. She will be forever treasured by her daughters, grandchildren, and missed by her nieces and nephews.
Rita faced her illness with grace, courage, strength, and dignity. The family wishes to thank her physicians Dr. Anthony Shallin, Dr. Melody Denson, Dr. Jerry Gilbert, Dr. Phillip Church, Dr. Joshua McKay, Danielle Manes, PA-C, and Jennifer Lord, FNP-C for the excellent and compassionate care that they provided Rita.
Funeral arrangements and services will be under the care of Cook-Walden Davis, 2900 Williams Dr., Georgetown, Texas 78628. Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 24th from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Holy mass at the Chapel at Assumption Cemetery with Burial to follow at Assumption Cemetery in Austin, Texas on Thursday, September 25th. A reception will follow. Location to be determined.
Pallbearers will be Caleb Chesnutt, Patrick Corona, Cookie Jaso, James Jaso, Thomas J. Flynn, Guadalupe Martinez Jr., and Rolando Carrillo. Honorary pallbearers will be Sarah Chesnutt, Dr. Oscar Reynolds, Celina Martinez, Orlando Canchola, Anna Lourdes (Lulu) Flynn and Mary Ann Segura.