Roselia Gonzalez

Roselia “Rose” Gonzalez died peacefully the morning of January 24, 2022, comforted by her three children and attended by the staff of Amistad Nursing Home in Uvalde, Texas. She was 93 years old.

A lifelong, faithful Catholic, Rose received God’s gift of grace at her baptism in the hometown of her grandparents, Comonfort, Guanajuato. She regularly received Holy Communion and confessed her faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed. Her love for God and trust in the Lord Jesus were apparent in the love she shared with so many.

Born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, to Mateo Leal and Anselma Velasquez, Rose was the third of eleven children. She spent her early years in Blewett, Texas, moving as a teenager to Uvalde where she later raised her three children. Grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren followed, and she showered them all with affection.

The older ones will remember, in addition to smiles and hugs, Grandma Rose’s atole (with cinnamon sticks); tortillas with butter, hot off the comal (consumed as fast as she could make them); and her signature dessert, banana cream pie.

She enjoyed spending time in her tiny kitchen, often in the company of her sisters, preparing special dishes like chiles rellenos, mole, and tamales. She and the Tías were patient in their attempts to pass on the art to children and grandchildren. And when her daughter Dora tried to replicate her caracolitos, she wondered if her mother’s love was the missing ingredient.

For many years while raising her family, Rose worked as a seamstress at Dickie’s where her strong work ethic served as a role model for her children. Later the same hands provided care in her home to neighbor children who called her “Grandma Rosa.” And she did love children! Newborns in the family received warm welcomes, and their mothers gratefully accepted her help. Her gentle, firm discipline and kindness are her legacy to generations of her family.

Rose’s patience with growing children extended to her care of God’s creation. She carefully tended her lawn and plants, and it was a pleasure to see the contentment she found in being outside in nature.

And her beautiful backyard was where Rose made fiestas happen! It was often the site for celebrations of birthdays, bridal and baby showers, graduations, and above all Easter. Her siblings, children, nieces, nephews and, in time, their spouses and offspring took part in Easter egg hunts, cascarones, water fights, wonderful meals, and laughter. These experiences will not be forgotten; they, too, are aspects of her legacy.

Through the numerous difficulties families face and in the happy times as well, Rose faithfully served those she loved. In so doing she brought honor to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose suffering and death on her behalf she gratefully acknowledged and whose resurrection brought her comfort and hope.

Rest in peace, dear mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, and friend.

Rose is survived by her son, Alberto (Susan) Cruz, of San Antonio, Texas; daughters Dora (Victor) Cruz-Meyers of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Sandra (Victor) Guzman of Uvalde, Texas; six grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; sisters Grace Angeles and Josefa Sanchez, both of Uvalde, Texas; and many nieces, nephews, and their families.

She is preceded in death by her parents; by brothers Ernesto, Refugio “Cuco,” and Paul; and by sisters Socorro, Gloria, Maryann, Terry, and Alicia.

Visitation will begin on Monday, February 7, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. followed by a recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary.

A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Morales officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery with Victor Guzman III, Adryen X Reyes, Martin Cruz, Gabriel Cruz, Jason Gandar, and Luis Javier “Gabby” Angeles serving as pallbearers and Xavier “Tiger” Reyes as honorary pallbearer.

The family extends their gratitude to the staff of Amistad Nursing Home and Uvalde Hospice and to caregivers Luz Acosta and Magdalena Gutierrez.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.