Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Governor Greg Abbott's wife Cecilia Phalen Abbott family tree, Mexican Ancestors by Mary Cummins

Governor Greg Abbott,Gregory Wayne Abbott, wife, spouse, Cecilia Phalen, Cecilia Therese Phalen, family,ancestry,heritage, dna, ethnicity, mexican, mexico, immigrant, mary cummins, genealogist, family tree, pedigree, mother, father, siblings, children, hispanic, first lady, segura, rodriguez, calnan
Governor Greg Abbott,Gregory Wayne Abbott, wife, spouse, Cecilia Phalen, Cecilia Therese Phalen, family,ancestry,heritage, dna, ethnicity, mexican, mexico, immigrant, mary cummins, genealogist, family tree, pedigree, mother, father, siblings, children, hispanic, first lady, segura, rodriguez, calnan

Cecilia T Phalen Abbott is the wife of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Gregory Wayne Abbott. I did his family tree for Geneastar years ago. Governor Greg Abbott's ancestors are immigrants just like Cecilia Phalen's ancestors. Always amazing when descendants of immigrants hate other immigrants. They want to deny them the rights which they themselves had and used to come to this country to flee oppression and have a better life. It's more upsetting in this case as Cecilia's mother speaks in Spanish in a political ad telling Latinos that Abbott is a "family man" and a "man of faith" who cares about "our values" when that is not the case.

* This article does not include full birth dates of living people. Only the year is included in order to differentiate among people with similar names. All photos are copyright free and used for education. 

Cecilia was born in 1959 in Texas. Her parents were teachers William Joseph Phalen born 1933 in Michigan and Maria de la Luz "Mary Lucy" Segura born 1934 in Texas and died November 7, 2020. Cecilia's paternal side is from England, Ireland and Maternal is from Mexico. Mary Lucy Segura Phalen's obituary is below.

"Mary Lucy Phalen (nee Maria de la Luz Segura) went to meet our Heavenly Father on November 7, 2020 after a brief illness. She passed peacefully surrounded by family who prayed and sang at her bedside.

She was the youngest daughter of Agustin and Leonor Segura who emigrated from Mexico to Texas at the turn of the 20th century. She was raised with strong Catholic values that emphasized faith, family and a generosity of spirit. She attended St. Henry's elementary and high school and graduated Salutatorian. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Our Lady of the Lake College.

She became a teacher, which was truly a vocation for her. She taught at various Catholic schools including St. Martin's Hall, St. Paul's and St. Anthony's. She also taught in the SAISD for 30 years at schools, including Horace Mann and Longfellow. She loved teaching and always referred to her students as "my children".

After she retired, she tutored neighborhood children who could not attend school due to illness or who needed extra help. This was her joy! She also volunteered her teaching services at Our Lady of the Atonement when they were in transition and were in desperate need of good teachers.

Her most fateful teaching assignment was when she was asked to fill in at St. Henry's in 1956 after the sudden and tragic death of one of their nuns. There, Mary Lucy met Bill Phalen, a fellow teacher who shared her same strong Catholic values. They married on December 28, 1957 and had four children: Joseph, Cecilia, Norbert and Letitia. She was very proud of her children and because of her ongoing emphasis on education, her children went on to earn college degrees, including post-graduate degrees.

She adored her son-in-law and daughters-in-law as if they were her own children and would do anything for them. She became somewhat of a celebrity when she starred in the "Madrina" commercials during the gubernatorial campaign for her son-in-law, Greg Abbott. This commercial ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epeGzWXUYgE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqONQ7ErAsY English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouPDw4pWOBA ) proved to be effective with gaining the Hispanic vote. She was so proud that her daughter, Cecilia, became the first Hispanic First Lady of Texas. Sadly, during this victorious time, she lost her son, Norbert, to cancer.

She loved music. She had a beautiful singing voice and played both the piano and organ. She shared her gift of song at various weddings and funerals. Anyone planning these important family events always knew they could count on both Lucy and Bill to organize the music.

Her house was always your house! The Phalen home became a hub for many celebrations, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions, to name a few. Extended family and friends knew they were always welcome!

She was an excellent cook and she had some iconic items like her famous fruit salad that could not be replicated. Music was always a big part of the Phalen experience so everyone was encouraged to sing Christmas Carols in harmony.

If anyone needed a place to stay for the holidays or if they were in between places in life, her door was open and they were treated as family. If anyone needed help and approached her, they would not be left out in the cold. This included stray animals. Mary Lucy exemplified her name, Maria de la Luz, meaning Mary of the light!

She is survived by her husband of nearly 63 years, William (Bill) Phalen, her son and daughter-in-law, Joseph and Yvette Phalen, daughter, First Lady Cecilia and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, daughter-in-law, Rosie Torres Phalen (the late Norbert Phalen) and daughter, Letitia Phalen MD. She is also survived by her grandchildren James and Natalie Phalen (Joseph and Yvette), Joshua Rocha, Clarissa, Erica, Olivia and Samuel Phalen (the late Norbert Phalen and Rosie Torres Phalen) and Audrey Abbott (Cecilia and Greg Abbott). Surviving great-grandchildren including Roman and Monique Rocha, as well as Charizma and Sebastian Boone.

She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Norbert Phalen, as well as her parents, Agustin and Leonor Segura, siblings, Agustin and Jose Segura and Nina Barner."

Maternal Family

Cecilia's great grandfather was Jose Augustino Segura born in Mexico 1900 and died 1955 in Texas. He was a janitor.  Her great grandmother was Leonor Rodriguez born in Mexico 1902 and died 1997 in Texas. All older ancestors on maternal side born in Mexico.

Paternal Family

Cecilia's paternal family is from England, Ireland, France and Scotland. 

Genealogist at Geneanet and Geneastar
https://en.geneanet.org/profil/marycummins
 Mary Cummins Investigative Reporter
https://marycumminsrealestatemarycummins.blogspot.com
 Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser
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 Mary Cummins
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 Mary Cummins Biography, History in Wikipedia format
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Thursday, December 15, 2022

Jenna Ortega, Jenna Marie Ortega family tree, ethnicity, ancestry, heritage, parents by Mary Cummins

jenna ortega, wednesday, jenna marie ortega, mother,father,mary cummins, family, ancestry, latino, mexico, puerto rico, genealogist, los angeles, california, edward ortega, natalie lopez
jenna ortega, wednesday, jenna marie ortega, mother,father,mary cummins, family, ancestry, latino, mexico, puerto rico, genealogist, los angeles, california, edward ortega, natalie lopez. Image: Family tree made by Mary Cummins. Photos are copyright free from Wikipedia or fair use of images for noncommercial education. Images came from government border crossing images, public images and other public sources. 

Family tree of Jenna Ortega, Jenna Marie Ortega. Full birth dates of living people are not included. Only birth years are used to differentiate between different people.

Jenna Marie Ortega was born in 2002 in Coachella, Riverside, California. Her parents are Edward Anthony Ortega and Natalie Marie Lopez both born in Riverside, California. Her father's side is from Mexico. Her mother's side is from Puerto Rico and Mexico.I just started the tree and will post the full tree when I finish.

Paternal Family

Paternal grandfather was Anthony "Tony" Ortega. Below is his obituary.

"Indio - Anthony "Tony" Larriva Ortega was born February 8, 1948 in Indio CA, to Jose Maria Ortega and Josephine Ortega and passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on January 19, 2022 in Indio, CA. He graduated from Coachella Valley High School in 1966 and served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1970. Tony will be remembered by all as a person that loved his family. Tony was proceeded in death by his parents Jose Maria and Josephine, and his sister Estella O. Cruz of Indio, CA.

Tony is survived by his wife Rosemary Palomares Ortega of Indio, CA, sons Edward Ortega of La Quinta, CA, Eli Ortega of Indio, CA, and daughter Monika Ortega of Indio, CA. Also surviving is his sister Julieta O. Arias of Indio, CA, and his grandchildren Mariah, Isaac, Mia, Jenna, Markus, and Aliyah. His great-grandchildren include Damian and Cash and too many nieces, nephews, and other loving family members, by blood, marriage, and choice, to possibly list.

Tony raised his 3 kids on a 5 acre ranch he owned for 23 years and built his dream home on. He was a tile setter and owned C.V. Raisins, his favorite line was "Hey I know what I'm talking about I'm a tile setter!"

Some of our best memories of our Fadda are of traveling, camping, shooting and treasure hunting all while listening to his oldies something everyone in the family got to enjoy with him, and something Tony really loved. We learned so much from our Fadda and we miss him so much already."

Grandmother is Rosemary Palomares Ortega who survives.

Great grandfather was Jose Maria Ortega. Below is his obituary.

"Jose Maria Ortega, 78, co-owner of businesses Services (or Jose Maria "Chema" Ortega), 78, of Indio will be held at 9 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Indio. Mr. Ortega, a native of Chihuahua, Mexico, died Sunday at his home. He was a 70-year resident of the Coachella Valley. He was co-owner of Indio Cab Co. from 1946 to 1963, co-owner of El Patio Inn in Indio from 1948 to 1985 and co-owner of Coachella Valley Raisin Co. from 1981 to 1987. He was a member of Sociedad Progresista Mexicana No. 63 in Coachella. Survivors include two daughters, Julieta O. Arias and Estella O. Cruz, both of Indio; a son,Anthony L. Ortega of Indio; five sisters, Jesusita Mufioz of Mexico, Maria Gas-telum and Lucina Martinez, both of Indio; Elena Galvez of La Quinta and Elvira Larriva of San Diego; four brothers, Antonio Ortega, Francisco Ortega, Carlos Ortega and Rafael Ortega, all of Mexico; 12 grandchildren; and 15 greatgrandchildren. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. today . at FitzHenry Funeral Home in Indio. A rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. .Burial will be at Coachella Valley Cemetery in Coachella."

Great grandmother Josephine Ortega. Obituary is below,

"Josephine Ortega Services for Josephine Larriva "Josefa" Ortega, 70, of Indio, will be at 8:30 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Indio. Mrs. Ortega, a native of Anthony, N.M., died Monday in Indio. She was a member of the Sociedad Protectora Femenil and the owner of the El Patio Inn in Indio. She donated many hours to the Girls Club of the Coachella Valley Thrift Shop and worked as a volunteer at election precincts. Survivors include her husband, Joe; a son, Anthony Ortega of Indio; two daughters, Estella Cruz and Julieta Arias, both of Indio; a sister, Hortencia Rey of Indio; two brothers, Frank Larriva of San Diego and Julio Larriva of Indio, 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the FitzHenry Funeral Home in Indio. A rosary will be said at 7:15 p.m. Burial will be at the Coachella Valley Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Diabetes Association."

Great grandfather Felizardo Palomares obituary is below.

"Felizardo E Palomares, 96 Bagdasarian worker. Services for Felizardo E Palomares 96 of Indio will be at 9 am Monday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Indio. Mr Palomares a native of Mexico died Thursday at Rancho Milage Health Care Convalescent Hospital in Rancho Mirage. He worked for Qoacbella Valley grower Richard Bagdasarian. Survivors include seven sons PALOMARES fyavid Palomares of Los Angeles, Mike Palomares of Huntington Beach, Harold Palomares of San Bernardino, Frank Palomares of Corona and Paul Palomares Er-i$st Palomares and Robert Palomares all of Coachella, seven daughters Cleo Palomares of Escondido, Rosie Smith of Ventura, Henrietta Hampton of Illinois, Rachel Palomares of Palm Desert, Jennie Fares and Ruby Bracamonte and Rosemary Ortega all of Indio, two stepsons Manuel Perez of Brawley and Tony Perez of Morgan Hill three stepdaughters, Helen Dominguez of Thousand Palms, Eugenia Ysiano of Cabazon and Margaret Aragon of Pomona; 70 grandchildren and 52 greatgrandchildren. Visitation will be from noon Sunday at FitzHenry Funeral Home Chapel in Indio A vigil service will be at 4 pm Burial will be at Coachella Valley Cemetery in Coachella."

Maternal Family

Grandfather was Robert Bob Lopez. Obituary is below.

"Robert Lopez worked in pool maintenance, 42. Services for Robert Lopez 42 of Palm Springs will be at 7 pm today at the Palm Springs Mortuary Chapel. Mr Lopez a native of Puerto Rico died Tuesday at Desert Hospital in Palm Springs. He was self-employed in pool maintenance. Survivors include his mother Felicita Cruz of New York City, a daughter Natalie Lopez of Indio, a son Christian Lopez of Indio, a sister Evelyn Winthrop of Torrance and his friend Richard Lloyd of Palm Springs. Burial will be private."

Grandmother is Maria Morales who is alive.

I'll post more of the family tree after I finish. I started only an hour ago.

Finished paternal side. Still stumped on parts of maternal side which is from Puerto Rico and Mexico. 





Genealogist at Geneanet and Geneastar
https://en.geneanet.org/profil/marycummins
 Mary Cummins Investigative Reporter
https://marycumminsrealestatemarycummins.blogspot.com
 Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser
http://www.marycummins.com
 Mary Cummins
http://www.mary.cc
 Mary Cummins Biography, History in Wikipedia format
http://wikipedia.marycummins.com/
 Mary Cummins on LinkedIn