Mrs. Rafaela Q. "Fela" Lara, 78 years old, peacefully passed away on Friday, August 13, 2021 surrounded by her immediate loved ones.

She was born and raised in Laredo, Texas, on October 24, 1942. She was the daughter of the late Micaela and Refugio Quiroz and married to the late Juan E. Lara Sr. She is survived by her sister, Ma. De los Angeles Blanquez and seven children, Nora Alicia Lara, Juan E. (Elizabeth) Lara Jr, Norma E. Lara, Leticia (Joe Angel S.) Lara, Patricia (Jose M.) Lara, Laura M. (Oscar G.) Lara, and Rene (Gloria) Lara. She was loved and will be missed by her brother -in-laws Pedro Lara Sr., Eduardo (Angela) Lara, and Ricardo (Elizabeth) Lara, and sister-in-law Alicia (Tony) Cron including nieces, nephews, and friends.

She adored her eighteen grandchildren, Orlando (Janette) Lara, Mark M. Elliott, Jesika D. Lara, Roel R. (Valerie) Lara, Kimberly (Albert) Camacho, Joel Jesus (Karla) Delgado, Luis (Olga) Arroyo, Miguel (Jessica) Arroyo, Daniel Arroyo, Monica (Nabor) Garcia, Fernando (Samantha) Saldivar, David Saldivar, Arturo Flores Jr., Amanda (Eloy) Flores, Alyssa (Jose) Flores, Rene (Stephanie) Lara Jr., Daniella (Eduardo) Nuncio, Victoria (Luis D.) Lara.

She was blessed with twenty-six great-grandchildren, Andres J. Lara, Averie and Troy Lara, Daniela and Khloe A. Camacho, Luis Jr., Zulema, Lizette, and Liliana Arroyo, Jaslene, Michelle, and Mike Arroyo Jr., Arlene, Lorraine, and Nicole Arroyo, Nabor IV, Natalei, Noah, and Nellie Garcia, Maddie Saldivar, Eric and Liam Lara, Ayden Alvizu, Jayden and Arturo Flores III, Sadie Rose Lara.

Our loving, kindhearted mother left us all beautiful, fun, and supportive memories, and her love will always be our eternal guide. Even though we cannot see her, she will always be at our side.

Visitation will be held Thursday, August 19, 2021 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Nieto Funeral Home & Crematory, where a rosary will be recited at 7:00 pm. Funeral Services will be Friday, August 20, 2021 from the funeral home to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Funeral Mass will begin at 9:00 am. Interment will follow immediately at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Orlando Lara, Roel Lara, Joel Delgado, Luis Arroyo, Fernando Saldivar, Arturo Flores, Rene Lara, Jr., and Daniel Arroyo. Honorary pallbearers are Mark Elliott, Miguel Arroyo and David Saldivar.

Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic & for the safety of all, and as per the family’s request face masks are required for those attending the funeral service.

Funeral service arrangements are under the care of Nieto Funeral Home & Crematory, 802 Coke St. Laredo, TX 78040. Condolences can be expressed to the family online at www.nietofuneral.com.