Maricruz "La Nana" Aurora Aguirre

McAllen ~ Maricruz "La Nana" Aurora Aguirre, 99, entered eternal rest on Monday, November 28, 2022 in McAllen. She was born on Tuesday, December 26, 1922 in Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, to Juan Manuel Martinez and Maria De La Cruz Garcia. She came to McAllen looking for a better life and had been a resident since the late 1960's. She worked as a nanny for the home Anne and T.B. Waite, then for the son of Charles and Dorothy Clark, Kirk Clark. She was a nanny to four generations of the Clark family.

Nana was the Heart and Soul of Charlie Clark Nissan Dealership. Charlie was very fortunate to spend half of his life with Nana. Growing up in south McAllen, Nana exposed Charlie to the Hispanic culture in a loving and educational way. Going to quinceaneras and church events, especially during Christmas, was Nana's way of showing her love to Charlie. Because of that Charlie will forever have a love for the Hispanic culture. When Charlie walked away from his family' business to be an entrepreneur, Nana went with Charlie and never left his side. In August of 2020, she was ranked 13 on The Twenty Most Iconic Local TV and Billboard Legends in Texas list published in Texas Monthly. At 86, "Nana" had already been helping Charlie sell cars for five years, he said she was always a ham and in church plays she was always the star. Ms. Aguirre co-starred in many ads, one disco-inspired as "Notorious Nana" playing the disc jockey, grooving in a silver outfit, shiny red bandana and bright bead necklaces and as boxer and trainer, mimicking "Rocky" where Mr. Clark cried out "Nana!" and in the variety show "Orale, Charlie!" She loved it and will be remembered by so many, her famous line "Nana, PAU-PAU!" will live on in all our hearts.

Nana is survived by her daughter: Esperanza Ludivina Garcia Martinez; son-in-law: Angel Salinas Carrillo; grandchildren: Angel, Karime, Alberto, and Oscar Salinas Garcia, Leticia Leal, Mauricio Torres, Liliana Padilla and Karina Garcia; great-grandchildren: Angel Marcelo, Ana Sofia, Ximena, Loretta, Barby, Emiliano, Mateo, Karola, Lola and Jonas; and also the generations of the Clark family that she cared for.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday, December 1, 2022 with the recital of the Holy Rosary at 6:00 pm at Rivera Funeral Home of McAllen. Celebration of Life Mass will be said at 1:00 pm Friday, December 2, 2022 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in McAllen. Interment will follow at La Piedad Cemetery in McAllen. Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Rivera Funeral Home of McAllen.

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