Anita W. Laurel

Anita W. Laurel, 85, passed away January 11, 2022 at San Rafael Nursing and Rehab.  She was born in Beeville, Texas on November 1, 1936 to Servando Canales Laurel and Gertrude Wilson Laurel. 

The Laurel family moved to Corpus Christi in 1946 where Anita attended Wynn Seal and graduated from Roy Miller High School in 1955.  Anita loved to travel and enjoyed taking care of her nieces and nephews; therefore, she traveled to Linden, Washington, North Dakota and Cotulla to help teach migrant children. 

Anita attended Del Mar College and received her Real Estate License as well as her Broker's License in which she opened her business, Anita Laurel Real Estate. She was the main driver in starting Laurel Inc. back in the 1980's. 

She loved fishing, sports and even helped her brother-in-law, Manuel Rosas, coach youth softball teams which some of her nephews participated in.

She worked in the Collections Dept for her nephew, Dr. Fred L. Perez Jr., was also employed by Nueces National Bank as a teller and worked on the 1990 Census. In 1995 Anita was a Field Interviewer on a major project for the National Survey of Family Growth which was sponsored by the United States Public Health Service.

She helped care for Soledad Cantu and her mother, Gertrude, for several years.

Anita was especially close to her niece, Natalie, and nephew, Adrian, since they lived right next door.  As they were growing up, she would pick them up after school.  All they had to say was they were hungry and she would get them something to eat.  

Anita is preceded in death by her parents, Servando C. Laurel and Gertrude W. Laurel, her brothers, Amado W. Laurel, and Cristobal W. Laurel, and her sisters Ernestine L. Perez, Amalia L. Marez, and Susanna L. Rosas.

She is survived by her siblings Servando (Irene) Laurel Jr., Rudy (Gloria) Laurel, Beatrice Ramos and Aurora Morin and numerous nephews and nieces whom she dearly loved as her own.

Special thanks to San Rafael Nursing and Rehab, Carestat Provider Agency and the wonderful, loving nurses at Angel Bright Hospice.  Special thanks to her niece, Vangie Cantu, who was her primary caregiver for the last 6 years.  Vangie, Mauricio, Natalie and Adrian were her guardians and did everything in their power to assure Tia Annie was well taken care of and loved. 
 
Pallbearers will be her brother, Rudy Laurel, and her nephews, Robert Ramos, Roland Ramos and Dr. Adrian Perez Cantu.

Visitation will be held Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church with rosary at 11:30 and funeral mass to follow.  Facemasks will be required at the services. 

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1322 Comanche St., Corpus Christi, TX  78401.