Our Story
About Last Shift Nurse Honor Guard
Where It Began
The Last Shift Nurse Honor Guard was founded on a simple but profound conviction: nurses deserve the same formal recognition at the end of their lives that soldiers, firefighters, and police officers receive. For too long, the nursing profession — one of the most demanding, selfless, and consequential callings in human history — has been honored in private grief rather than public ceremony.
We were founded by nurses, for nurses. Our founders witnessed firsthand the quiet passing of colleagues who had given decades of their lives to patient care, whose families were left to mourn without the communal acknowledgment their loved one had earned. That absence became a calling.
In 2025, the Last Shift Nurse Honor Guard was established to fill that void — to create a formal, dignified, and deeply meaningful ceremony that honors nurses the way they deserve to be honored: with witnesses, with ritual, and with the full weight of a grateful profession.
Our Mission
"To reverently honor nurses who have devoted their lives to the sacred calling of healing and compassion. With gratitude and grace, we recognize their selfless service, celebrate their legacy, and offer a final tribute that reflects a spirit of care, dedication, and faith that guided their journey."
Dignity
Every nurse who served deserves a farewell that reflects the magnitude of their contribution. We bring formality and reverence to a moment that too often passes without ceremony.
Community
Nursing is a profession built on shared sacrifice. The Last Shift Ceremony gathers colleagues, families, and communities together to bear witness — because grief shared is grief honored.
Legacy
We believe the names and stories of nurses must be preserved. Every ceremony we conduct is an act of remembrance — a declaration that this life, this service, this person will not be forgotten.
Who We Serve
We serve families who have lost a nurse, healthcare organizations honoring their staff, nursing associations, and communities who wish to pay tribute to a caregiver. We work with hospitals, hospices, long-term care facilities, and nursing schools. No request is too small. Every nurse who served deserves to be honored.
The People Behind the Mission
The Last Shift Nurse Honor Guard STX
Rosalinda Montemayor
Co-Founder/President
A dedicated nursing professional and passionate advocate for honoring those who have given their lives to the care of others. Rosalinda's vision helped bring the Last Shift Nurse Honor Guard STX to life.
Jose Manrique
Co-Founder/Vice-President
Jose's dedication to community and professional dignity drives the organization's outreach and growth across South Texas. He ensures every family and facility feels supported through the ceremony.
Jacqueline De Anda
Co-Founder/secretary
A nurse and ceremony keeper at heart, Jacqueline carries the lamp of remembrance for every nurse honored. Her commitment to ritual and meaning shapes every tribute the organization performs.
Ernesto Garcia
Co-Founder/Treasurer
With decades of experience in healthcare and community service, Ernesto brings leadership and heart to the organization's mission of dignifying the final chapter of a nurse's career.
Request a Ceremony
If you would like to honor a nurse who has passed, we would be privileged to serve you. Reach out and we will guide you through every step.
Request a Ceremony