Thais Rowland

Thais was born October 3, 1954 in the Federal District of Mexico City. She graduated cum laude in 1985 from St. Edward’s University with bachelors degrees in psychology and gerontology with a minor in political science. In Austin, she worked as a counselor at the Texas State Hospital from 1987- 1988 and, later, as dropout preventionist at Crockett High School from 1989-1992. In 1993 she began teaching Bilingual Early Childhood Special Education at Allen Elementary; in 1999 she taught English as a Second Language at Paredes Middle School where she sponsored the escolta flag guard and allet folklórico groups until she retired in 2015.

Thais had a passion for volunteering. She served as principal dancer and instructor at Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklórico de Texas from 1986-1993; as choir director and youth leader at San Lucas Iglesia Luterana and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church from 1992-2001; and as instructor and children’s director at Ballet Folklórico de Austin since its founding in 2015. Thais had also served at Palm Valley Lutheran Church in Round Rock as a volunteer for Stephen’s Ministry since 2019, a volunteer Lay Director of Hispanic Ministry since 2022, as grief counselor since 2024, and as lay minister since 2025.

Thais is remembered for her smile and bountiful love, which she shared through music, dance, and food. She believed the best in everyone by encouraging and motivating those she met to pursue their happiness. She was passionate about justice and equity; she believed that there was a right way to treat people, and a better way.

Those who knew Thais will remember her laughter, often at physical humor or at herself. She was rambunctious in her youth, skipping school and pranking the met Hugo, and learned to love dance. Her life led her to New Jersey, and, later Texas where she took root and built a patchwork family of her children, cousins, nieces, an ex-husband, ex-inlaws, dancers, educators, and close friends. She was never shy; she loved to love and be loved and was proud for the world to know it.

Thais is predeceased by mother Elisabeth Clarck (2015), father Emilio José Del Toro Rosales (1985), aunts María Sofía Clarck Romero (1987) and Yolanda Clarck Merlotti (2023), sister Sagrario Romero (2006), and best friends Russell “Pelón” Barrett (2007) and Rosa María Gómez Resendis (2021).

Thais is survived by husband Hugo Ernesto Aguilera Montaña, 70; brother José María Tizoc Del Toro Clarck (65) and wife Norma Sánchez Del Toro (66); best friend Pati Juarez Cegarra (64); son Ragnar Sajid Rowland (52) and wife Jennifer Crea Rowland (55); daughter Ivone Romero Erdmann (49); daughter Rebecca

Elizabeth Rowland (48); son Michael Patrick Rowland (43); son Robert Emilio Rowland (33) and wife Tracy Rowland (37); prostethic son Jeremiah McMillan (52); and, grandchildren Austin Matthew Shappard (31), Isabella Thais Rowland (25), Adela McMillan (14), Hazel McMillan(12), and Jameson Barksdale (10).

A celebration-of-life service will be held Saturday, November 7 at 2:00 p.m. at Palm Valley Lutheran Church; 2500 East Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock, TX 78665. Flower arrangements—which Thais would have loved—can be sent c/o Palm Valley Lutheran Church Re: Thais Rowland.