Juanita Peña

Juanita Peña, 74, of Waco, entered the presence of the Lord on the evening of Sunday, July 14, 2024. Funeral services will be at 1:00 pm, Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Might Wind Worship Center with Pastor Derrick Watley officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. A visitation service will be Friday, 6-8 pm at OakCrest Funeral Home.

Juanita was born October 13, 1949, in Waco, to Trinidad Ortega Carbajal and Mercedes Gonzales Carbajal. She was a devoted member of Mighty Wind Worship Center for over 35 years. The greatest gift she ever received was accepting Salvation through Jesus Christ and asking Him to be Lord and Savior. She retired from Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where she worked in Environmental Services for 16 years.

Juanita was loved and cherished by her family whom she loved deeply. She has been like a second mother to many nieces and nephews whom she loved as her very own children. She never gave up on any of them and they all held a special place in her heart. Juanita loved her son and daughter more than anything on this earth, except for maybe her grandbabies! They truly were her pride and joy. She looked forward to Thursday nights, which were MAMA nights, where she selflessly prepared home-cooked meals to feed her little family.

Juanita loved Jesus Christ and sang with all of her heart, songs of praise and worship to Him. She enjoyed going to thrift stores, estate sales, as well as garage sales, always hunting for a bargain either for herself or a family member. She enjoyed reading books and watching “her shows”; Days of Our Lives and novellas. She loved serving her family, especially during holidays, preparing meals, and buying gifts when able. When physically able, she loved serving by directing traffic for the mobile food pantry at church.

Juanita was proceeded in death by her husband of 32yrs, John A. Peña Sr.; daughter, Patricia Ann Peña; father, Trinidad Carbajal; mother, Mercedes Carbajal; sister, Ninfa Lopez; and brothers, Benny Carbajal and Joe Carbajal.

She is survived by her son, John A. Peña Jr. and wife, Melissa R. Peña; granddaughters, Alexandria Faith and Mia Grace Peña; grandson, John-Paul David Peña; sisters, Mary Carbajal and Connie Peña; brother, Trinidad Carbajal and wife, Donna; and many nieces and nephews, friends, family and church family.

As this earthly chapter closes, an eternity with Jesus awaits a woman who loved God and her family like no other. Go, live in the LIGHT Mama!

The family would like to thank Baylor Scott & White - Hillcrest’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Center; Nurses, PCTs, PT and OT, the BS&W Hospice team as well as the Nurses and PCTs on 4-North, for their compassionate and loving care for Mama and us the family.

Instead of flowers and/or gifts, the family asks that donations be sent to Mighty Wind Worship Center in honor of Mama, as one more act of love for her home church.