Daniel P. Hernández

DANIEL P. HERNANDEZ
ELSA - Daniel P. Hernández was called home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, after his battle with cancer. He was born in Edcouch, TX on December 19, 1939. He was preceded in death by his parents, Concepción & María P. Hernández and a sister & brother, Lydia & Alejandro Hernández. He is survived by the love of his life Aurora (Lillie) Hernández , his children, Edward (Ella) Hernández, Pharr, TX; Daniel (Sylvia) Hernández, Jr.; La Villa, TX; Alex Rey (Norma) Hernández, Elsa, TX; Lydia Danielle Hernández, Mission, TX, grandchildren (Krystal, Kassandra, Christopher, Alexandria, Alexxis, Michael, Emily, Daniel III, Ariel Lilly, Simon Peter, Thomas Edmund, Alec Christian, and Alex Rolando) and four sisters, Olivia Hernández and Oralia Mejia, Houston, TX; Guadalupe (Ramón) Salazar, Plymouth, IN; Lydia (Daniel M.) Savedra, McAllen, TX; and numerous nephews and nieces. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Daniel Hernández III , Christopher Hernández, & Simon Peter Hernández, and nephews Javier Hernández, Hugo Gonzalez, Alejandro Gonzalez, & Dominic Savedra.
Daniel was a humble quiet man who spoke truth and wisdom. He was a man of integrity who served as role-model, mentor, and counselor to all his immediate & extended family & many friends. He was a former migrant field worker who valued education and received a degree in teaching at the age of 19. He was a school teacher with Raymondville ISD & La Villa ISD, he went on to serve La Villa as Superintendent. Later, he became Superintendent of the Edcouch-Elsa ISD where several schools were built during his tenure. One of his greatest joys was the construction of schools for the District, so he and Lillie often spent time on weekends driving from school to school to admire the facilities and dream of better things to come for the students. He was an advocate for children and a leader in the promotion of bilingual education & equity in education for all students. As Superintendent he supported efforts to obtain scholarships for students at Ivy League Schools. After his retirement, he served his community as a School Board Member and worked with the Donna ISD in several administrative capacities.
Daniel & Lillie enjoyed hosting barbeques for family and friends. He cooked the best mouth-watering brisket, chicken, and fajitas anyone could ever taste. All were welcome to their home and nobody left hungry. He enjoyed traveling during the summer. He & the family toured throughout much of the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Daniel P. Hernández will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He will forever be loved & live in our hearts & in all the wonderful memories he leaves with us.
The family wishes to thank his doctors and the staff at McAllen Medical Hospital, Rio Grande Regional, Renassiance Hospital, & LifeCare Hospital for the care they gave Daniel during his lengthy illness.
Visitation will be at 5:00 PM with a rosary at 7:00 PM on Friday, June 26. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, June 27 at 10 a.m. Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Elsa. Interment will follow at Highland Park Cemetery, Weslaco, TX. Guerra Funeral Home, Elsa, TX is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
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