ESTELA CRUZ GONZALEZ

Estela Cruz Gonzalez, 80, died peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving husband and family on Jan. 13, 2019. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2001 and was blessed with 17 additional years as a survivor. Estela grew up on San Antonio’s West Side, and was a 1956 Lanier High School graduate, where she met the love of her life, Julio Gonzalez. They

January 8, 1938 - September 13, 2019

were married in August 1957 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Estela worked at Stowers Furniture Store in the payroll department as Julio earned his degree at St. Mary’s University. In 1963, she was his "girl Friday" as he began his career with State Farm Insurance. They were married for 61 years and blessed with four children, Stella Espinoza (Arturo), Christina Mora (Gerard), Julio Jr. (JoAnn), and James (Rebecca), 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandsons. All will miss her immensely, but will remember her fondly when they don her signature handmade aprons or hang the Christmas stockings she made them, with their names embroidered, and like her signature dishes, contain the secret ingredient, love. Estela enjoyed family gatherings, including a 50-plus year tradition of an annual fall family trip to Utopia, gambling with her honey, impromptu road trips to Pleasanton, and in her younger days, traveling. She devoted countless hours to PTA, school booster clubs and church organizations, including her years teaching CCD.

Estela left lovely lasting impressions on her home through her gardens, her painted touches, her hand created decorations, and her grotto. Estela displayed her talents in all she made, including pajama pants that she and her sisters sewed for the Rape Crisis Center and banners and dressed dolls for her church. She loved Jesus and had a devotion to our Lady of Guadalupe and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Estela’s legacy was her long, faithful marriage to Julio, and even as her battle with cancer came to an end, she lived to see five of her grandchildren married, honoring this legacy. She is also survived by her sisters Alice Madrid and Zulema Valverde, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and others that were honored to be her friends.

Visitation for Mrs. Gonzalez will be on Friday, January 18, 2019 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels South, from 5-9pm; with the Holy Rosary to be recited at 7pm. Funeral mass will be on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, beginning at 10:30am. Interment immediately to follow at San Jose Burial Park.

For personal acknowledgement, you may sign the online guestbook at www.missionparks.com in the obituary section.