Abigail Z. Woolman

ABIGAIL Z. WOOLMAN EDINBURG/CONROE - Abigail Z. Woolman, 79, went into eternal sleep Thursday, January 23, 2020, in Conroe, Texas surrounded by her family. Mrs Woolman is preceded in death by her parents, Manuel and Apolonia Juarez Zarate; her siblings, Onofre Zarate, Sigiferdo Zarate, Lombardo Zarate, Celidia Pardo, Herlinda Hernandez, Baldemar Zarate, Alejandro Zarate, Carmen Zarate, Angelica Zarate. Today we celebrate Abigail's life knowing wholeheartedly that she is rejoicing in heaven with her Creator, family and friends. Abigail Zarate Woolman was born on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1940 in Edinburg, Tx to Manuel and Apolonia Zarate. And as St. Patrick had a love for Christ and sharing the gospel, so did Abby. It's fitting that she was born on such a day. Abby grew up and lived her young adult life in Edinburg TX. She had 6 brothers and 7 sisters. As a young girl she worked in the cotton fields, picking cotton which was much to her dismay, as she expressed a couple of years ago. "I don't like those shoes,'' referring to the new pair of converse tennis shoes her daughter just bought. "I used to wear those when I worked in the cotton fields". Those shoes are now known as "the cotton pickin' shoes. Abby was not afraid to share her opinion with you. In 1961, a good looking man by the name of Paul Woolman from Missouri made his way into a South Texas restaurant to grab a bite to eat. He laid eyes on the waitress, quote "the most beautiful woman I've ever seen". He said "I'm going to marry her". In which Abby's response was, "yeah, that's what you think". Four months later they were married. Abby was quickly promoted to mom. Along with Paul came 4 bonus daughters, Phyllis, Pam, Cindy and Marilyn. The next year, Abby gave birth to Ann, then William and lastly Lina. Paul and Abby had 19 grandchildren and 44 great grandchildren. She loved all her children, grandchildren, their spouses, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, really whoever came her way. Her daughter Lina recalls riding in the car with her and when people would wave like they do in small Texas towns, Lina asked, mom, who was that? Abby responded, I don't know. They waved at me so I waved back. That's who she was. Kind. At the same time Abby was quick to let you know what she thought, she also knew when it was time to hold her tongue. She was the matriarch of the family, always providing Godly counsel and wisdom. She loved the Lord, His word, praised Him in the good and the bad times. It was also important to her that the people she loved understood the importance to forgive others that may have caused them pain. As God forgives his children, his children need to forgive each other. She never held a grudge and found goodness in everyone she met. One of Abby's favorite past times was fishing with Paul. They would make multiple trips a year. Weather up the road, over to Lake Somerville or across states to Missouri. Abby was known to outfish all the men around her. She literally caught fish without any bait and even once with a LEAF! She was a very resourceful woman, using whatever was around her. This irritated the guys and mom would just grin and Fish on. However her fishing skills didn’t seem to carry to Wisconsin. On her last trip to visit William in Wisconsin, she was fishing with a group of people on the Fox River. The entire group around her were catching fish just about as quick as they could cast. She couldn’t get a bite. She asked the guy next to her to switch places, still no luck. Now knowing what dad felt like when he fishes with her, she packed up her pole until she could get back down south to out fish him on their next fishing trip. Abby LOVED shopping. You could find her in JC Penny with Pam or yard saleing with her Ann. In the past several years Ann and her husband Scott got Abby hooked on estate auctions. Her eyes would scan the room, find an item,inspect it and then would discretely ask Ann, hey how much do you think we can resell this for??? We joked that her dress today would come from a yard sale. Ann found it right down the street from here. Just kidding. Abby was a funny lady. I'm sure you could ask many of the people in the room today and they could share a story or two about her. And the more she picked on you, the more she wanted you to know you were important to her. In Abby's last days she made sure to express how important it was that her loved ones come to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So in honor of Abigail, her love for Christ and her hope that one day you will join her in heaven, I ask that consider praying this simple prayer. Father God, Creator of the universe, of the heavens and the earth I thank you for sending your son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me for the things that have caused you and others in my life hurt. Guide me on life's path that is pleasing to you and your will. I ask you Jesus to come into my heart for the rest of the days of my life. I accept you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus name, Amen. Memorial contributions can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/ or The Vasculitis Fondation. https://www.vasculitisfoundation.org Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. with a 1 p.m. Chapel service Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at Legacy Chapels 4610 South Jackson Road in Edinburg. Interment will follow at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens in Pharr. Funeral services are under the direction of Legacy Chapels in Edinburg.