Rita Vera was born in Habana, Cuba. Her elementary schooling was as a boarding student in a Catholic School, where nuns were from Mexico and Spain.

In 1952, she got her PhD in Pharmacy at the Habana University. She was a chemistry teacher at Instituto de Marianao, a pre-university institution.

She, her husband, and son arrived to this country in July 1967. This trip was possible due to the “Freedom Flights” sponsored by the American Government under the Presidency of L.B. Johnson.

After 13 months in Miami, she came to Laredo with a contract to teach Spanish, Mexican History and Chemistry at Holding Institute. During her last three years at Holding, she not only fulfilled her teaching duties, but she served as a register as well during her time at Holding Institute, she got her Master of Arts Degree at A & I in Kingsfield. In 1973, she became an American Citizen and in 1980 went to teach Spanish at Martin High School.

At Martin High School, she sponsored the Spanish Honor Society “Gabriela Mistral Chapter” until 1993. During this time, she sponsored the Spanish Spelling Bee, Prose and Poetry contests. Mrs. Vera was one of the sponsors of the “Festival Hispano” in our city during three years. Martin High won the sweepstakes all the three years. In the festival, participants were not only students from Laredo but from other nearby cities. Students participated in Canto and dance as well. She was one of the sponsors of the food, toys, clothes drive for “Casa Hogar”, an orphanage in Nuevo Laredo during the Christmas season. In 1984 and 1986, the Martin High Spanish Honor Society got National Recognition for getting first place for their performances in different activities during those years. In fact, one of the members won a trip to Spain awarded by the National Spanish Society. Mrs. Vera had been in the teaching profession for a total of 41years. She retired from Martin in 1996.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Librado Vera, both from Spain, her sister Luisa, her stepfather Pedro, brothers-in-law Manolo, and Ramon, cousins, Teresa, Carmen, Gustavo, and Juan and other relatives in Cuba and Spain.

She is survived by her son Librado Jr., daughter-in-law, Maria Antonia, grand-daughter Vicky, her sister Josefa, nieces Matilde and Lauren, nephews Manolo, Ray, Raynor, and Cousins Jose, Adela, and Pepe and other relatives in Cuba and Spain.

Funeral arrangements are by Nieto Funerals & Cremations, 3502 US Hwy 83, Laredo, Texas 78046 (956) 723-3723. For your convenience, you may leave your condolences to the family online at www.nietofuneral.com