Lourdes Lara Simmons

BROWNSVILLE, TX. – Lourdes Lara Simmons entered into eternal rest, surrounded by the love of her family, on Monday, the 27th of April 2026. Born on February 11, 1938, she was a woman defined by strength, grace, and dignity, a steady and comforting presence to all who knew her.

As the oldest of thirteen children, Lourdes embraced a life of responsibility and care from an early age. Later, as the matriarch of the Lara family, she took great pride in each family member’s accomplishments and remained deeply devoted to them.

Lourdes had a warm spirit and a love for life’s joyful moments. Her laughter and smile could light up a room, leaving a lasting impression on everyone she met. She leaves behind a legacy of strength, compassion, and enduring love. She was also cherished by her friends, who valued her companionship and kind heart.

Education and community were very important to Lourdes and her husband, Neal. Together, they established several scholarship opportunities and endowments at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College (UTB/TSC), The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), and First United Methodist Church (FUMC) to benefit college and trade school students. Their goal was to encourage others to pursue further education, believing that their community would be stronger when individuals had the opportunity to better themselves and their families. Lourdes also established an endowment with Driscoll Children’s Hospital to support research for the prevention and treatment of diabetes in children. Her generosity extended to the Gladys Porter Zoo, where she funded a project to restore the giraffe exhibit.

Lourdes was preceded in death by her husband, Neal O. Simmons; by her parents, Josefa B. Lara and Magdaleno Lara, Sr.; by her brothers, Mac Lara (Rosie) and Hector Lara (Esther); by her sisters, Esmeralda Goodell (Lester) and Cynthia Lara; and by her brother-in-law, Reynaldo Rodriguez.

Survivors include her daughter, Lourdes Simmons Carrasco (Albino); her stepson, Scott Simmons (Iris); and her siblings, Blanca Fernandez (Frank), Andy Lara (Rosie), Rosario Burnias (Frank+), Margie Oakley (Karl), Elizabeth Gonzalez, Agustin Lara (Josephina), Ricardo Lara (Belinda), and Dora Bernal (Mike).

She was a proud grandmother to Jenica Russell, Albino Carrasco IV (Katherine), Amanda Wood (Nate), and Todd Simmons (Kate), and a loving great-grandmother to Andrew Russell, Austin Russell, Albino Carrasco V, Madeline Carrasco, June Carrasco, Olivia Wood, Penelope Wood, Mira Simmons, and Talia Simmons. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews.

She will be remembered for her grace, her devotion to family and others, her faith in God, and the light she brought into the lives of those around her.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, the 29th of April 2026 between the hours of one o'clock in the afternoon and eight o'clock at night, with the recitation of the holy rosary to be recited at six o'clock Wednesday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The Celebration of her Life and Resurrection will be held at twelve noon on Thursday, the 30th of April 2026, at the First United Methodist Church, 1225 Boca Chica Boulevard, Brownsville. Entombment will then follow, via an escorted procession, within the Buena Vista Burial Park Mausoleum, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville.

Honored to serve as her pallbearers are Dr. Joshua Bernal, Hector Burnias, Derrick Lara, Gerardo Rodriguez, Joe Ray Rodriguez, Esq., Andrew Russell, and Austin Russell.

In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Lourdes may be directed to the Moody Clinic, 1901 E. 22nd Street, Brownsville, Texas 78521, (956) 542-8504, and to Guadalupe Regional Middle School Student Scholarships, 1214 Lincoln Street, Brownsville, Texas 78521, (956) 504-5568.

Memories of Lourdes may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey, CFSP and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.