Lilly M. Gonzalez

December 3, 1932-February 23, 2024

Lilly Vargas Gonzalez, 91, was born on December 3, 1932 to Damacio and Maria Vargas Mendoza in Nueces county. She left this earth to be with her Lord and Savior on February 23, 2024. She had the great fortune of leaving this life surrounded by prayers and peace.

Lilly worked as a nurse at Driscoll Children’s hospital when it opened in 1953 and was later a nurse at Spohn Memorial Hospital and P&S She was a very sharp witted and sensible woman. She was strong in character and morals. Above all, Lilly was a woman who loved God and her family. She was an avid member of Southcrest Baptist Church for over 50 years. She prayed fervently for her loved ones.

She loved keeping healthy and would walk the track at Ray High School for 20 years. She later found herself a member of the YWCA, where she would participate in water aerobics every week for over 20 years . Lilly was a social person and loved people. One could be intrigued by her life stories for hours. In every aspect of her life, she would make long lasting friendships.

She was so proud of her family and all that they accomplished. She loved hosting Sunday family meals as well as celebrations for holidays. To know her was to love her. She was a woman of great strength and fortitude. She overcame so many adversities and was one of the most positive people you could ever meet. She was also one of the richest people you could ever meet. She was rich in the love she had for God and the love she gave and received from her family and friends. She called her home her palace and would invite all to break bread at her table. She was the epitome of what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ. If one could sum up her legacy, it would to be love one another as Christ loves us and to have fun while doing it. She had a wonderful time on this earth but always knew she would be going home to rest with God and would have it no other way.

She is survived by her one remaining sister, Maria Alice (Joe) Gonzales ; her five children, Elida Macias, Virginia (Arnold) Barerra, Gracie (Mike) Stelly, Leopoldo (Andrea) Gonzalez, Henry (Debbie) Gonzalez; her 14 grandchildren, Debbie (Greg) Bushman, Rafael (Jemma) Macias, Denise (Darren) Martinek, Luke (Christina)Barrera, Michael (Daniela) Barrera, Joseph (Amy) Barrera, Angela Barrera, Daniel Garcia, Phillip (Sarah) Garcia, Leo (Kim) Gonzalez, Audrey (Curran) Parmar, Alyssa (Brandon) Lutz, Matthew (Marissa) Gonzalez, Myranda Gonzalez; her 31 great grandchildren, Diana, Megan, Luke (Caitlin), Sophia, Edward (Deavin) Christiane, Jessica, Nikki (Conner), Christian, Courtlynn, Cameron, Jacobo Barerra, Victoria Barrera, Ryan Barrera, Madeline Barrera, Justin Garcia, Benjamin Garcia, Sammy Garcia, Annalise Gonzalez, Andrew Gonzalez, August Parmar, Joelle Parmar, Gianna Parmar, Jackson Lutz, Addison Lutz, Nathaniel Lutz, Camila Gonzalez, Melanie, Clarissa, Emily Rose, Benjamin Barrera; and five great great grandchildren, Gracie Marie Lyman, Jacob Buschman, Ryan Buschman, Negan Macias, Theodore (Teddy) Rodriguez.

She is preceded in death by her husband Leopoldo G Gonzalez, her siblings Guadalupe, Luciano, Virginia, Porfirio, Sotero, Henry and her son-in law Ralph Macias.

We will forever be blessed to have called her wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and Prayer Warrior. We hope to portray her legacy for years to come and inspire others to do the same.

Honorary serving as pallbearers Rafael Macias, Leo Gonzalez, Michael Barrera, Daniel Garcia, Phillip Garcia, Matthew Gonzalez. Honorary pallbearers are Ryan Barrera, and Benjamin Barrera.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 PM on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at Memory Gardens Funeral Home and Cemetery, 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415. A funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Monday, March 4, 2024 at Memory Gardens Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. You are invited to a fellowship to follow at 5601 Killarney Close Loop. Mathis, Texas