Magaly Vazquez-Aninao went home to be with The Lord on December 5, 2024, after suffering a long illness. Magaly was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on January 10, 1952, to Isabel Arroyo and Victor Vazquez.

Magaly was a proud "military brat," spending her childhood in various locations, including Georgia, South Carolina, and Germany. At the age of four, Magaly's mother contracted tuberculosis, and she was quarantined from her mother for six months. After their reunion, her father suffered from alcoholism which created a very dysfunctional home life. Yet Magaly was able to grow, thrive, excel and overcome all these challenges. She would recount with great pride how her students found her to be such an inspiration when she gave this testimony of an absent mother and her alcoholic father in her own life. She shared this with all her students on the first day of classes and to others who would listen.

Magaly's academic journey was a testament to her drive and ambition. She earned a full scholarship to the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, where she completed her college degree for a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in just three years and then earned a Master of Arts in Counseling in just a year by the age of 21. Her academic feats were accomplished with the same determination that marked her entire life.

In 1979, Magaly moved to Boston to make a transition in her teaching career. It was there that she met her beloved husband, Tony Aninao, at a disco near her apartment. What began with a simple dance led to a lifelong partnership. They married on April 19, 1981, and relocated to Houston, TX, where they built their life together.

In Houston, Magaly devoted herself to raising her children ensuring they had every opportunity for success and happiness.  After her children were grown, Magaly returned to the classroom, working as a high school Spanish teacher and an E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) instructor at the college level for ten years to adults from forty-four different countries.

Magaly was known for her deep compassion, empathy, unwavering dedication to her family, and deep love for the Lord. She was a woman of conviction, always direct, blunt, and unafraid to speak her mind. While she was often quiet at first, those who truly knew her recognized her as the life of any room. She had a sharp sense of humor, a unique personality, and a heart full of love. She loved her plants, her birds, her swing, and, above all, her family and the Lord.

Magaly was a devoted follower of Christ. She rooted her faith deeply in the Lord and was always eager to share God's love to others. Magaly believed in prayer and spent her time praying for others and expressing hope and encouragement to the hurting. Magaly's declaration to others was that God had been faithful to her during the storms of her life even in the storm of dementia.  This explains why her favorite song was: "He's Been Faithful.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Victor Vazquez, Jr., and niece Mae Vazquez.

Magaly is survived by her loving husband, Tony Aninao, her son, Carlos and her daughter, Katerina all of whom were at her side to love and honor her in her last moments on this earth. She is also survived by her sister, Mayra Vazquez-Pagan, brother Carlos Vazquez, along with a host of her many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and many other lifelong friends.

Serving as Pall Bearers:

Tony Aninao, Katerina Aninao, Carlos Vazquez, Javier Vazquez, Edwin Enriquez, Glen Penfield.

The service honoring Magaly's life will be held at 11am, Thursday, December 12, 2024, at Peevey Funeral Home, 12440 Beamer Road, Houston, TX 77089, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Galveston Memorial Park, in Hitchcock, Texas.