Luciana Gomez Briones

Luciana (Chana) Gomez Briones, age 96, entered into eternal rest on August 30, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones. Born in 1928 in San Benito, Texas, she lived a long, beautiful life defined by faith, love, service, and family.

The child of immigrant parents, she carried a deep sense of responsibility from an early age. As the eldest daughter in a family of migrant workers, she helped to raise her seven siblings at home and often extended her care to the children of other families who worked the fields alongside her own. These early years planted the seeds of caring and service that shaped the woman she became.

As a young woman, she met the love of her life, Margarito Briones. Their courtship lasted nine years before they married in 1952, spending 59 joyful years together until his passing in 2011. Their marriage was a testament to devotion and partnership, a love story that inspired all who knew them.

She was a devoted mother who raised her seven children in a warm, welcoming home and taught them the value of faith, generosity, and education. Along with her own children, she cared for many children of friends and family throughout her lifetime. Her service to the Catholic Church was constant and meaningful: she was a member of the altar society, choir, and cleaning crew, and participated in ministry, outreach, and marriage encounter counseling.

She was a Cursillista for many years, bringing countless others to Christ and to the Church. She gave not only her time but her heart, always finding ways to serve God and others. As the wife of a Catholic deacon, her service reached far beyond herself. She supported her husband’s ministry with quiet strength, caring for their home and family so that he could faithfully serve the Church.

Her life was full of joy and humor, and her quick wit earned her more than a few laughs. Above all, what defined her was love: love she poured into her husband, her children, grandchildren great-grandchildren, and godchildren, her extended family, her community, and all the lives she touched. In return, she was blessed with an immeasurable love that surrounded her all her days.

She is survived by her sisters Hilaria (Jose) Servantes, Olivia Robles, and Gumecinda Gomez, her children Juan (Oralia) Briones, Ester (Joe) Martinez, Elva Briones, Jorge (Elizabeth) Briones, Elma (Mike) Tipton, Joel Briones, and Elisa (Michael) Gil, 20 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, and numerous godchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents Matea and Anastacio Gomez, her loving husband Margarito Briones, her siblings Guillermo Gomez, Maria de Jesus Longoria, Canuta Perez, and Ricardo Gomez, and her granddaughter Patricia Escobedo.

She had a fire inside her that burned bright; it lit our paths and kept us warm. Her life was a gift to all who knew her, and her memory will be cherished always.

The Briones family will receive friends and relatives on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 7 o’clock Tuesday evening. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Benedict Catholic Church. Following the Mass, Luciana will be laid to rest at Mont Meta Memorial Park.  A reception following the graveside service will be held at the Executive Event Center, 881 South Sam Houston Blvd, San Benito, Texas.