Anthony James Fraga

Anthony James Fraga passed away and was called home on Wednesday, January 19th, 2022, after a long battle with end stage renal failure at the age of 60. Tony, as he was known to many, was born June 15th, 1961, in Salinas, California to Ramon and Mary and four, soon to be five siblings. Shortly after, the Fraga family moved back to El Paso, where they would become avid staples of the Ysleta and Mount Carmel communities, and where Tony would graduate high school in 1979. Tony seemed to live many lives in his one, having helped provide for his family from a very young age, becoming an industrial production leader with General Motors, running an auto repair shop and bustling nightclub alongside his siblings, deep diving into media and broadcast in El Paso and then throughout California, and finally returning to pursue his degrees and last career in education. In addition, music stood strong as his deepest passion, as he could spend days listening to and sharing his favorite songs, and was even a beautiful singer and percussionist in multiple jazz, rock, and salsa bands at one point. Music and his dear friends are also what led him to meeting his wife in 1997, married shortly thereafter in 1998, and finally able to start a family in 2000. He worked his way up from Teacher to Associate Superintendent of Schools in his time in education, touching many lives of students and colleagues along the way. He was diagnosed with end stage renal failure in 2013, where he chose to push on with dialysis and take on a new role, leading SISD’s Community Education department. His diagnosis did not dim his perseverance and grit, as he led a devoted team in developing a new and monumental program to give adults in our community free access to industry recognized certifications, greatly increasing those who took the courses’ ability to get higher paying jobs, provide for their families, and be excellent role models to their children. His kidney disease progressed, and sadly forced him to retire before he was ready in 2021. Nonetheless, he found a new fight and purpose, pushing on and living for his family, with goals of watching his daughter graduate high school, reaching the age of 60, walking again, and making sure his family was safe and set. He achieved all these things, and then peacefully passed and rejoined those who preceded him. He is preceded in death by his father Ramon, his dear mother, Mary, brother Tom, and other beloved family and friends. He is survived by many nieces and nephews, his dear brothers, sisters, and their spouses Ray and Alma, Mike and Melissa, Melinda and Dan, and Robert. He is also survived by his beautiful, devoted wife, Raquel, and their two children, Ava and Anthony II. It is hard to summarize such a full and amazing life, just as it is hard to say goodbye. You will live here on earth in the many stories and smiles you leave behind, and live forever without pain in the Kingdom of God. Please join us in remembering Tony with a visitation Wednesday, January 26th at 5PM, with the praying of the Rosary beginning at 6PM, held at Sunset Funeral Home on 750 N. Carolina Dr., El Paso, TX 79915. The funeral mass will be held on Thursday, January 27th at 10AM at Mt. Carmel Church, located at 151 S. Zaragoza Rd, with internment immediately following at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Anthony James Fraga please visit our Sympathy Store.