In Memoriam

Deacon Alfonso Luis Ramirez April 12, 1964~Nov. 2, 2014

Deacon Alfonso Luis Ramirez passed from this life to eternal life on Nov. 2. Deacon Ramirez spent more than 30 years serving the youth and young adults at St. Patrick's, Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the Diocese of Corpus Christi, mostly as a volunteer, and the last eight years full time.

Deacon Ramirez was born April 12, 1964 to Adolfo and Alice Ramirez in Corpus Christi. He was the seventh of eight children. He was a lifelong member of the Roman Catholic Church and spent his entire adult life serving his Lord, the Church, and the young people of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

He met his beloved wife, Susan, while ministering at St. Patrick's Church. They married in 1987. Through the grace of God they had five children–Efrain, of Alexandria, LA, Myryam (Gabriel) Vela, from Tyler, Texas, Deborah (Daniel) Martinez, from Houston, Texas, Christine and Nicole who both still live at home.

He worked at Ford Motor Credit for more than 17 years. After much prayer and discernment, he applied for candidacy to the diaconate. He was ordained a Deacon of the Catholic Church on Nov. 10, 2012. He found great joy in serving his Lord, by serving the people of God and bringing them closer to Jesus. He served sacrificially whenever asked upon up until the last month of his life.

He is preceded in death by his brother Angel and his parents.

He is survived by his wife and children, three grandchildren: Isabela, Isaiah and Iryna; his brothers Adolfo, Efrain (Anna), Richard (Deanna), his sisters Norma Adams, Melinda Ramirez Holdsworth and Sonia (Jesse) Nuncio; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will begin at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help with a rosary to be a recited at 7 p.m. that evening. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Corpus Christi Cathedral with Bishop Michael Mulvey as celebrant. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.