Melissa Gutierrez Gutierrez-Gonzalez

MELISSA GUTIERREZ-GONZALEZ went peacefully home to be with God, in the early hours, Saturday, March 16, 2013, at the age of 41. She is preceded in death by her mother, JoAnn Cabarubio Gutierrez, her father, Oscar Gutierrez, Jr., her brother, Oscar “Corky” Gutierrez, III and her paternal grandparents, Antonia Alonzo Gutierrez and Oscar Gutierrez, Sr., and first family pet, Apollo Gemini.

She leaves behind her beloved husband of 22 years, Fidel Gonzalez III; her amazing children, Brittany Paige and Adrian Oscar; in-laws Rosemary and Fidel Gonzalez, Jr; maternal grandparents, Jesusita and Edward Garcia; Paternal Aunts and Uncles, Victor Gutierrez (Jeannie), Sylvia Rocha (John), Ray Gutierrez (Sandra); Maternal Aunts and Uncles, Louis Cabarubio (Toni), Sharon Gamboa (Fidel), Richey Cabarubio and Anthony Garcia (Thelma); godmother, Lupe Sabedra; brother in law, Ryan Gonzalez; sister in law, Marlena Gonzalez and many loving cousins, family, friends and her fur-babies, Harley and Chloe.

Melissa is a 1989 graduate of North Shore Senior High School and a 1996 graduate of the University of Houston-Downtown, where she received her BS in Political Science. MD Anderson has been her work family for the last 20 years where she worked in Employee Health and ultimately Recruitment.

The family will receive friends, Wednesday, March 20, 2013, from 5 to 7p.m., with a Rosary being recited at 7p.m., in the Chapel of Forest Park East Funeral Home, 21620 Gulf Freeway, Webster, TX 77598. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30a.m., Thursday, March 21, 2013, at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 15500 El Camino Real, Houston, TX 77062. Interment will follow at Forest Park East Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers/plants, the family asks that donations be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Hospice or St. Bernadette Catholic Church Helping Hands Organization, in her memory.

As much as our hearts are breaking, we are comforted in knowing that Melissa is cancer free and reunited with her family as they welcomed her with open arms at Heaven’s gates.