With profound sadness we announce the passing of Manuel “Manny” Alaniz, our loving and devoted father and friend to all whose lives he touched. He left us peacefully in the presence of family in his 89th year, on July 12th, 2021.
Born in Mendoza, Texas on October 28th, 1931 to farm laborer, Francisco Alaniz Sr., and homemaker Isabel Espinoza, Manny Alaniz lived a full life. He followed in his father’s footsteps as a dedicated and hardworking farm laborer, it was in these fields that he met the love of his life, Aurora Rodriguez, while picking cotton. Manny and Aurora were married on September 7th, 1952, marking the beginning of their life together.
Manny and Aurora would go on to have eight children. Driven by his love for his family and desire to provide, he left the fields for entrepreneurship as the owner of several establishments throughout his lifetime including Lakesite Camper Company, Alaniz Insulation Company, and even a bar in Brownfield, Texas. Later in life, after their kids were all grown, Manny and Aurora left the Lone Star State of Texas for the Grand Canyon State of Arizona, it was here that Manny finished his working career as a “fix-everything-guy” for Adam’s Brothers Interior Design while undertaking the sole venture of a highly recommended tile craftsman.
He was a man of unwavering faith with a deep love for the church. The tile design and installation of the floors of St. George’s Catholic Church in Apache Junction, Arizona where he served as Usher during Sunday mass for many years was his most proud accomplishment.
He now joins his loving and devoted wife Aurora, his siblings, and his granddaughter Lauren Michelle Kendrick.
He is survived by his only remaining sibling, Sister Mary Jane; all eight of his children, Francisco Alaniz, Odilia Alaniz, Anita Alaniz, Manuel Alaniz Jr., Eva Lefebvre, Cynthia Ann Kean, Theresa Wiles, and Mary Margaret Alaniz; as well as 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 15th from 4:00 pm-7:00 pm at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery (7900 E. Main St., Mesa, Az 85207) with a rosary led by Manny’s dear friend Monsignor Pinti from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm.
A mass in his remembrance will be held on Friday, July 16th at 9:00 am at St. George’s Catholic Church (300 E.16th Ave, Apache Junction, AZ 85119) with a burial at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery at 10:30 am.
Tio Manuel you will truly be missed.
My Tio Manny Alaniz may God bless you and your family with grace. I remember fondly you playing guitar with my dad Guadalupe Alaniz and my other uncles. You will be missing and send Heavenly prayers ~ John Peter Alaniz Sr (from Helotes TX)
Our condolences and prayers to Manny’s family for their grief.
May you be resting in Heaven with Tia Aurora. We love you and miss you dearly Tio. Love the Mendez-Adhikari family
My condolences to the family who are always in our prayers and our hearts. Your sweet angel my sister Aurora is eagerly waiting for you.
I know you are up there in heaven with my sister holding hands again. Our condolences and prayers to our Alaniz family.
Dad… I will miss you. Love you. You were a wonderful father and a part of me is missing now.
I will miss my father very much; his humor, his stories, his laughter.
I shall remember all the times you told me stories. And telling you to wait until I was ready with my coffee. love you forever “Baby Sally”
May uncle Manuel rest in Heavenly peace with aunt Aurora. Prayers for the Alaniz family.
Praying for a restful & peaceful afterlife in Heaven, with Tia “Yoya”
also prayers to the family
Our condolences and prayers to our cousins, we’re here for you if you need anything. I have wonderful memories of my uncle – his laughter, his jokes, him trying to make me eat. He’d be proud of me now, love he dearly, he’ll be greatly missed.
My deepest condolences to the Family of Manny Alaniz and prayers to all. He was a good brother in law an he loved my sister always forever very hard working man an good father you will be join with the love of your life an all your family in heaven my mom an Dad you mom and dad brother s sisters in heaven . You will be always remember an missed. RIP with the Lord.🙏🙏🙏🙏
Love you forever and always Grandpa.
My Deepest Condolences to the Alaniz family, I remember the first time I saw Uncle Manuel, we were down Sinton Texas, I was watching a combine coming down from the fields, the combine stopped, the door open and and out stepped Uncle Manuel with sunglasses, I was just little tike, but this Mountain of a Man came down the steps to greed us, My dad (Guadalupe his brother) me, I was in AWE, I wanted to drive a combine too, and be cool like my Uncle Manuel. GOD BLESS HIS FAMILY and again, My Deepest Condolences.
I love you Dad, life will never be the same now that both parents are gone you did the best for us that you could. There is a hole in my heart now I’ll miss you.
We miss you I love you always
Para mi querido suegro, don Manuel. I will cherish forever las pláticas that we had. I learned so much of your proud & rich Tejano roots, la música Tejana, and a work ethic second to none. But most of all, how kind, loving, and giving you were to me, your daughter, Eva, and your grandson, Alberto. Descanse en paz, tu yerno, René
Sending our condolences to the family. May the lord to have you in his grace and continue to give you’re family the strength and peace needed everyday.
Rosie Martell
I am so sad to hear of your passing from this life. But I know that if the Lord needs anything fixed in heaven he can count on you to fix it.
I felt honored by your presence at our Knights of Columbus meetings.
We pray for peace for your family here in this life as you enter into the the Kingdom of Heaven with your eternal family.
Vivat Jesus
James Garcia, Past Grand Knight
Pope John Paul I
Knights of Columbus Council 7243
St. George’s Catholic Church
Our condolences to the Manuel Alaniz family,
I am a cousin to all the Alaniz s family, I’m sorry that I just found out today of his passing!
But I do remember our Tio Pancho visiting My parents in Round Rock , Tx. My dad was Pedro
Espinoza, my daddy loved all the Alaniz family!! Condolences to all cousin Manuel’s
Children!🙏🙏🙏❤️
I miss daddy but also know he is with my mom now. I wish we knew more about the Espinoza side of the family. Thanks for the wonderful comments. Miss you, daddy! Be happy!