Barbara Cecilia Wise

Barbara was the eldest of four children born to Aurelio Barbosa, Sr. and Alicia Ledezma Barbosa, on September 20, 1929. The family lived, predominantly, in Weslaco, Texas. But, they also lived in Monterrey, Mexico, where the money Aurelio made in the U.S. stretched further during the Great Depression. They also lived for a short time in Sanger and Fresno, California, where they worked as farm workers and searched for better opportunities. Eventually, they returned to Weslaco, Texas and made it their home.

Barbara attended Weslaco High School, where she made many life-long friends. She excelled in sports and in her senior year at WHS, she was crowned “Queen of Sports”. In commemoration of her athletic achievements, she rode on a float in the Weslaco Parade, along with all of her duchesses.

After high school, Barbara took some business and secretarial classes at Pan American College, now the University of Texas @ RGV. These classes served her well when she went to work for the Weslaco law firm of Smith, MacElheron & Jenkins, as a legal secretary. There, she worked for 17 years.

Always up for a challenge and new opportunities, Barbara decided to try her hand at entrepreneurship! She divided half of her husband’s business, by hiring a carpenter to make modifications and voila!, she created a ladies dress shop!

When the music revolution hit in the 60’s, Barbara, always reaching for new heights, decided to close her dress shop and open up a record store. This was the first discotheque in Weslaco, Texas! She sold records and albums from the current music scene, but specialized in Latin music. The record shop was a big hit, and it wasn’t long before it became a popular hangout for high school students on their way home from school. Everyone who shopped at the record store enjoyed listening to their favorite tunes playing in the background, as they decided which records they were going to buy!

In 1966, Barbara and her husband, Miguel Wise, made the bold move to leave the city and build a house out in the country. It was an all-electric home that sat on five acres. There, they raised their two children, Gilda and Mike Wise. In their later years, Barbara and Miguel enjoyed their retirement traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada, Mexico and Europe.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, Aurelio and Alicia; her three siblings, Alonzo Barbosa, Sr. (his wife Jovita Ramirez Barbosa); Ada B. Martinez (her husband Roberto Martinez); and her youngest brother, Aurelio Barbosa, Jr.

She is survived by her two children, Gilda Wise Duffy (her husband Patrick Duffy) of Boerne, Tx.; Miguel D. Wise (his wife Erin Duffy Wise) of Weslaco, Tx.; two sisters-in-law Annie G. Barbosa (Olmito & Weslaco, Tx.) and Maria Wise (McAllen, Tx.); her three grandchildren Mike D. Wise III of Poland; Mark Wise (his wife Khemploy Tonsakulrangruang) of Hong Kong; and Zachary A. Wise (his wife Sara Walker) of Weslaco, Tx.; her three great grandchildren Wyatt Wise, Xiomar Wise and Willow Wise; and many nieces and nephews.

A rosary and funeral mass will be held in San Antonio, Tx. on February 21, 2025 at St.Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church (8500 Cross Mountain Trail / 78255) Rosary at 10:00 a.m., Mass at 11:00 a.m.

A second mass will take place in Weslaco, Tx. on March 1, 2025 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church (109 S. Illinois St. / 78596) at 10:00 am. Her final resting place will be at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito, Tx. alongside her beloved husband, Miguel.

Barbara lived life to its fullest and enjoyed every day of her life. Below is one of her favorite poems.

“La Vida Es Sueño”

por Pedro Claderón de la Barca

Que es la vida?

Un frenesí.

Que es la vida?

Una ilusión,

Una sombra, una ficción;

Y el mayor bien es pequeño

Que toda la vida es sueño

Y los sueños, sueños son.