Jesus Gonzalez

Jesus Gonzalez, 83, of Houston, Texas, passed away November 7, 2020, at Chelsea Gardens Skilled Nursing Facility in Missouri City, Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife and mother of his children, Carmen Emilia Seijas y Barreiro.

He was born to parents Jesus and Geronima Gonzalez on December 7, 1936, in Havana, Cuba. While in Cuba, Jesus graduated from Piarist Fathers High School and received a B.S. in Accounting from Villanova University, Class of ’58. Jesus' career in accounting led him to work for such companies as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maryland, Blue Cross of Florida, and the Memorial Hospital System in Houston, where he surprised his family by joining the company choir. He was a member of the National Association of Accountants and the Hospital Financial Management Association. A fan of bowling, Jesus was the Founder and first President of the Ten Pin bowling league and President of the Duck Pin bowling league at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maryland. Jesus' second career in sales at Foley's in Houston, later in life, astounded all who knew this introvert as he won award after award for performance and customer service.

He married Carmen, the love of his life, in Havana, Cuba, in 1959. He is survived by his children: Jorge Gonzalez (wife Angela, children Aurelia and Benjamin), Arlene Gonzalez-Kelsch (husband Michael), and Carlos Gonzalez (wife Brena, children Olivia and Amanda).

Along with helping others and his family, Jesus' passions were film, live entertainment, animals, reading, and telling bad dad jokes. All who knew him enjoyed his dry sense of humor and his deadpan delivery style. He was also a fan of taking really large bites of food from whatever his kids were eating, always prefaced by the question, “What are WE eating?” This led to coining the family term, “a Gonzalez bite.” This term is still actively used among his children.

Jesus and Carmen powered through the challenges of fleeing their mother country of Cuba in the early 1960’s to escape communism and provide a better life for their family in the U.S. After a year in Spain, the family immigrated to the state of Maryland in the U.S., first in Baltimore and then in Joppatowne. Knowing little English did not stop Jesus from working, learning, and excelling in his profession. With two jobs initially, he worked very hard to build a life for his family and permanently settled in Houston, Texas, in 1976.

Despite everything he endured, Jesus managed to keep a strong, charitable, and comedic spirit. Always an active member of the church, even during his stay at Chelsea Gardens, Jesus regularly gave to different charities. Although restricted to a bed for the last 6 years of his life, he was always more concerned with how things were going for his family.

Thank you, Dad, for everything; for always doing your best. We love you, and we miss you.

A mass will be held to celebrate the memory of Jesus on Monday, December 7, 2020, at 11:30am at St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church, located at 10503 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX, 77042. Keeping friends and family safe during COVID-19, the mass will be streamed live. In addition to a private on-site family burial that will follow the mass, it will also be live streamed. Those wanting to send flowers can send them to Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home and Cemetery, located at 12800 Westheimer Rd., Houston, Texas, 77077.

To leave an online condolence to the family, please visit our website at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/9930155