San "Perez" Juanita Hernandez

San Juanita P Hernandez was born on October 11, 1947 to Geronimo G. and Maria Constancia Niño Perez in the small southwest Texas town of Carrizo Springs. Geronimo was a truck driver and Constancia was a housewife. Juanita was the oldest of the three children and grew up with her brothers Jerry, Jr and Sergio, who did whatever the mischievous girl told them to do and gave the rest of her relatives and friends the wonderful stories that made up her legend. She was always doing things her way and was willing to accept the consequences. She got married to Juan Manuel Hernandez in May of 1961 because she loved him and said it would be so. She raised her children, Elva, Sandra, Maria Rebecca (Becky), Johnny Angel, Michael and Juan despite everyone telling her she was too young to have them. Juanita often said that she was born with the Bill of Rights in her hand and proved it by aiding anyone that needed a big voice to speak for them. She helped so many families to get their papers that she was investigated by Immigration, who could not believe how many times her signature showed up and that she did it for free. Juanita was a woman's advocate and was Chairperson for the Oregon Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, helping women to become empowered and set up their own shelters across the NW. She worked for the Portland Police Bureau in the Family Services/Domestic Violence Reduction Unit helping battered women and their children escape their oppressors and find safer lives. She was brave enough to face any obstacle to do so and received an award as The Newsmaker of the Year in 1998 for her heroism by the Royal Rosarians. Juanita continued to help people when she worked for the DHS in Hillsboro. She then turned to improving herself spiritually and eventually became Pastor for Templo Bethel, a Pentecostal church in Cornelius, Oregon. Illness was the only thing that slowed her down, or she would still be preaching the Word. An amazing woman passed away in her sleep Saturday, July 18. She is survived by her daughters and their spouses Elva (Terry), Sandra (Randy), son, Juan, grandson Lucas, sister Thelma and nieces Sylvia, Ninfa and Terri and nephew Jerry, III. She was welcomed to Glory by her cherished parents, her husband, her beloved brothers and her children, Johnny Angel, Becky and Michael. Her formal service will be held at Templo Bethel in Cornelius on August 15, at 1:00 pm. The family thanks all those that have touched her life and we give thanks for the lives she has touched. Rest now, Juanita. Service Information