Cecilia Cuellar Gutierrez

Cecilia (Chila) Cuellar Gutierrez of Corpus Christi, Texas passed away on June 20, 2024, at the age of 89. She was born on December 16, 1934 in Edroy, TX where she grew up until she married. Cecilia was a loving mother, wife, sister, grandmother, aunt, godmother, etc. There was not much she wouldn’t do to ensure the household ran efficiently. She would mow and rack the yard, she’d wash the car, tend to her plants (Bird of Paradise, Amaryllis) cook a meal for a dozen people from whatever she could find in the freezer and pantry in no time at all. She learned to make tortillas at the age of 8. Her weekends as a child were spent washing clothes and ironing for the workers her father employed.

Cecilia was a longtime member of St. Patrick Catholic Church; she was an active bowler in a women’s league until an injury forced her to retire.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years before his death, Abel C. Gutierrez, father, Erasmo Cuellar, mother, Natividad Ayala Cuellar who died at the age of 26, Cecilia was 2 years old. Cecilia was raised by her stepmother Manuela Tijeriana Cuellar. Deceased brothers: Arturo Cuellar, Frank Cuellar, Joseph (Joe) Garza, sister, Consuelo (Chelo/Connie) Villagomez.

She is survived by her daughters, Sylvia Rangel and Annabel Martinez; sons, Abel Jr. and Rudy Gutierrez; and her sister Beatrice Morin. Grandchildren, Marcus Gutierrez, Jason Rangel, Sr. Monica Gutierrez, Rudy Martin Gutierrez, Jana Salinas, Ruby Marie Gonzales, 17 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank LeaAnn Liserio family friend who cared for Cecilia from March 2022 through April 2024. Additionally, many thanks to Corpus Christi Hospice (Lacey CNA, Krista, Alexis RN, Elizabeth, LVN, Aissa, and Chaplin, Mike for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in her final days.

LeaAnn would bring her food. Cecilia especially loved sweets; she would give us a thumbs up when she really liked something she was eating. LeaAnn would take the time to brush her hair and dress it up. She would take iPhone pics of Cecilia and share them with the family.

Cecilia’s home was open to all. She at various times housed her children’s friends, family members, and anyone that was in need of shelter whether it was for a weekend or over extended periods of time. She literally would give the shirt off her back. She was compassionate, caring, and selfless. She loved children. She took care of her grandchildren, as well as those of friends of hers or friends of the family when there was an immediate need. She would get down on the floor to play with them and let them play in her kitchen, banging her pots and pans with wooden spoons. She loved to play Loteria, and would spend some quiet time working on puzzles, and she enjoyed a good game of 31 with the entire family.

Visitation with the family will begin at 4pm on Sunday, June 30, 2024, public viewing from 5-9, Rosary at 7 pm recited by a Deacon. Family and friends are invited to attend a mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church at 3350 S. Alameda St. Corpus Christi Tx on Monday, July 1, 2024 at 12pm. Interment to follow at Coastal Bend Veterans Cemetery, 9974 I-37 Corpus Christi, TX.

The Rosary will be live streamed using Facebook Live on Sunday June 30, starting at 7pm, on the Funeraria Del Angel Everhart facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/FDACageMills