Lyla Ann Desouza-Janda

Lyla Ann DeSouza-Janda, 46, of La Porte, Texas, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024. She was born to Robert and Flossie DeSouza in Bandra, a suburb of Bombay (now Mumbai), India, on March 23, 1978.

She came to the United States in May 1985, when she was seven years old, and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. She attended San Jacinto College and the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL), studying general business. She began working for the University in its library department in 1995. In 2007, she started working as a library technician at Bastion Technologies/United Space Alliance, where she enjoyed working with documents related to the space shuttle and NASA. She would later work for two energy companies, MX Energy and CenterPoint Energy, before returning to UHCL in 2015 to work as an academic records clerk and specialist. Later, she applied her love of photos to making photo collages for the local newspaper, Around La Porte.

Lyla married her beloved husband David in 2008, and they settled in La Porte, Texas, where she lived until she passed away. She was a devoted mother and wife. She loved to decorate for any holiday, cook for family events, and bring joy to those around her. She was a faithful member of her church, St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church and enjoyed attending mass on Sundays with her family.

Lyla was preceded in death by all her grandparents and her father, Robert DeSouza. Lyla is survived by her husband of 16 years, David Lee Janda, Jr.; daughter, Angelica Marie Janda; mother, Flossie DeSouza; sister, Karen DeSouza; father-in-law, David Janda Sr.; mother-in-law, Donna Janda; godfather, Terence DeSouza; godmother, Linda D’Souza; godson, Mark LeBlanc; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins all over the world. Her family is devastated by this unexpected loss. Lyla was dearly loved by all and will be sorely missed.

A viewing and rosary will be held at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, 3131 El Dorado Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77059 on Friday, May 3, 2024, beginning at 9:30 AM, followed by the funeral mass at 10:30 AM A reception will be held at St. Clare, followed by burial at 1:30 PM at Forest Park East Cemetery, 21620 Gulf Freeway, Webster, TX, 77598.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Lyla to either St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, Epilepsy Foundation, MD Anderson Cancer Center, or a charity of your choice.