Cecilio "Cecil" Echartea

Echartea, Cecilio "Cecil" Bay City, Michigan Mr. Echartea passed away peacefully at Doctors Hospital- Renaissance in Edinburg, Texas on Thursday, April 25, 2013, with his family by his side at the age of 79 years. The son of the late Martino and Maria (Gonzales) Echartea was born December 25 in 1933 in San Benito, Texas and has resided in Bay City, MI since 1948. He retired after 50 years as a mason and was member of the Bricklayers Local #7. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren and playing cards. Left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Maria Estela Echartea whom he married on May 28, 1954, his children and their spouses, Maria A. and RobertFranek, Rosa L. (her fiancé Ted) Santellano, Martin and Shelly Echartea and Lionel (his fiancé Barbara) Echartea, six grandchildren, Tryna, Erica, Renee, Steven, Angela and Andrew, nine great grandchildren, several brothers and sisters. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Santiago and Rogelio Echartea. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Friday, May 3, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church. The celebrant will be Rev. Fr. Bill Gruden with the private Rite of Committal in St. Patrick's Cemetery. The family will be present at the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. on Thursday to receive relatives and friends from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Vigil for the Deceased will take place on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Echartea will be taken to the church on Friday to lie in state from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Liturgy. Those planning an expression of may wish to consider donations to Wishes of the Family.