MISSION - Minerva Alaniz, 85, passed away Friday, April 20, 2012 at McAllen Heart Hospital.

Born on October 27, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Victor and Adela Diaz. On January 1, 1949 she married Evaristo Alaniz.

She is survived by her daughters, Mary Alfaro, Sylvia Silguero, Yolanda Sandoval, Eva Bridgewater and Norma Sandoval; sons, Arturo Alaniz, Juan Alaniz and Rodulfo Alaniz; brother, Antonio Diaz of Simi Valley, CA; sisters, Hilda Pena of Mission, Elma Wester of Tampa, FL, Irma Hogan of Breezy Point, NY and Ana Hofstetter of Lake Havasu City, AZ; and 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Evaristo Alaniz; her parents; brothers, Gilberto and Victor Diaz Jr.; and sisters, Emma Garcia, Beatriz Porter, Mary Hennessey, Graciela Diaz and Juanita Casas.

Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rivera Funeral Home in Mission. The funeral mass will be said at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 25, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested memorial contributions to be made to the American Lung Association.