Gloria P. Vasquez

Gloria Perales Vasquez, 97, passed away on December 16 at her home in Houston, surrounded by her loving family. Gloria was born on December 1, 1927 in Charcos, an ejido or communal farming village in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. She is preceded in death by her husband, Fermin Sauceda Vazquez, her parents Pablo and Maria de Jesus Perales, and her siblings Manuel and Carlota. Gloria and Fermin married in 1955 in Charcos, and on their honeymoon they immigrated to the United States, thus beginning a pursuit of the American Dream that was marked by decades of hard work and the raising of a family in Texas and California. In 1993 she proudly became a naturalized American citizen. Gloria and Fermin are survived by their six children, Maria Luisa (Virgilio de Leon) Vasquez; Fermin (Alexandra) Vasquez; Manuel Vasquez; Martha (Nantel) Suzuki; Adolfo (Raquel) Vasquez; and Fernando Vasquez.

Their children were born as the family migrated across the United States, first living and working among the orange groves and cotton fields in the Rio Grande Valley, where Maria Luisa and Fermin Jr. were born. They followed better opportunities cultivating grapes, raisins and peaches in Selma, California and the San Joaquin Valley, where Jose Manuel and Martha Beatriz were born. In 1966, the family made its final move, settling in Magnolia Park in the east end of Houston, where Adolfo and Fernando were born.

Gloria is survived by twelve grandchildren, Christina Diane Warner (Andrew); Kathryne Andrea de Leon, DVM; Matthew Andres Vasquez (Lauren); Marc Anthony Vasquez; Ezekiel Virgilio de Leon; Melissa Marie Vasquez; Sarah Elizabeth de Leon; Daniel Hiroshi Suzuki; Peter Hideji Suzuki; Gabriela Ramirez Vasquez; Penelope Vasquez; and Estevan Lorenzo Vasquez. Gloria also has four beautiful great grandchildren, Sofia Warner, Sebastian Warner, Aria Vasquez and Isabelle Vasquez. Gloria also has three surviving siblings living in Tamaulipas, Mexico, Ramon Perales, Maruca Perales, and Julio Perales. She is survived by numerous nephews and nieces whom she loved dearly.

Gloria was adventurous, and throughout her travels, she made lasting friendships wherever she landed. At the same time, she strove to maintain her family’s connections to its original roots. The Vasquez house on Avenue F in Houston was always a place of welcome and respite for visiting family members. In Houston, she grew her faith in Jesus Christ and practiced her faith daily, walking to church daily and visiting the Catholic Charismatic Center steadfastly on Wednesday mornings and Friday evenings. She loved to sing her Catholic canticos and pray the rosary. Gloria taught her family their prayers and ensured that they received their sacraments. At her parish of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, she was a catechist , a founding member of the Guadalupana Society, a lector, and a Eucharistic Minister. Gloria believed deeply in the power of education. She loved learning and reading and instilled in her children, by example, the value of education, taking night school classes to learn English. She even enrolled in cake decorating classes and enjoyed baking cakes and decorating them for her grandchildren. Gloria instilled in her family the importance of carrying oneself in a presentable manner and maintaining high standards. A patient and loving wife, Gloria, prayed devotedly for her husband and was known to give loving blessings to all her family and close friends before any travel. Throughout her life she always worked hard, whether at home, or cleaning offices, or assisting at a senior citizen center.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

A visitation for Gloria will be held Sunday, December 22, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023. A rosary will occur Sunday, December 22, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023 Conducted by Deacon Johnny Salinas. A funeral mass will occur Monday, December 23, 2024 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 7250 Harrisburg Blvd, Houston, TX 77011 Conducted by father Henry B. Walker. A committal service will occur Monday, December 23, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 12:50 PM at Forest Park East Funeral Home, 21620 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX 77598.